A HISTORY 




OF THE 



TOWN OF 
WESTFIELD 



Compiled for the public schools from 

Greenough's History of Westfield 

in the Annals of Hampden County 

and other sources 



By CHESTER D. STILES 
Suoerintendenl of Schools 



!3f[ 



J. D. Cadle & Company 

WeslHeld, M:.-s. 

1919 






■1 <i?i^, 




A HISTORY 



OF THE 



TOWN OF 
WESTFIELD 



Compiled for the public schools from 

Greenough's History of WestHeld 

in the Annals of Hampden County 

and other sources 



By CHESTER D. STILES 
Superintendent of Schools 



J. D. Cadle & Company 

Westfield, Mass. 

1919 



t \YGS S£ 



""< Bedinnitid of Settlement 



The first white men who made a temporary abode in this reg-ion 
seem to have been attracted by the opportunities to trade with the In- 
dians for beaver skins and other fnrs. It is impossible to trace the 
routes, to h>eate the stopping pkices. or to determine the times of these 
early pioneers. 

In 164:1. as j^hown by the I'iolonial records, the general court of 
Massachusetts, finding that the people of 'Connecticut had encroached 
upon the domain of the jMassaehusetts Bay, wrote them as follows : 

"It is greivos to us to meete with any oecation that might cause 
difference to arise betweene yor people & us. standing in so near relation 
of friendship, neighborhood & Christianity, especially; therefore or 
study is (when any such arise) to labor the removing of them upon the 
first appearance. Now, so it is, that we have been certified that .vou 
have given leave to some of yors to set up a trading house at Woronock, 
wch is knowne to bee within or patent, lying as much or more to the 
north than Springfield. Wee heare also, tliat you have granted to iNIr. 
Rob't Saltonstall a great quantity of land, not far beneath Springfield 
wch wee apphend to bee an in.jurA^ to us, & do us such right in redressee 
hereof as you would expect fro us in a like case. Wee suppose wee shall 
not need to use other argumts; we know to whom wee wright. Wee 
have thought meete upon these occations to intimate further unto you 
that wee intend (by Clod's help) to know the certeinty of or limits, to 
the end that wee may neither intrench upon the right of any of or 
neighbors, nor suffer orselves & or posterity to bee deprived of what 
rightly belongeth unto us, wch wee hope wilbe without ofldence to any ; 
,& upon this wee may have some ground pceeding in or further treaty 
wth you about snch things as may concerne the welfare of us all. These 
things wee leave to yor consideration. & shall expect yor answear. In 
the meane time wee rest. ' ' 

The immediate occasion of this letter was the fact that Governor 
Plopkins of Hartford had obtained a grant of land, and, in 1640. had 
established a trading house at "Woronock." 

At a still earlier period the people of Connecticut claimed a certain 
jurisdiction over Springfield, even, as w^U as the territory lying west. 
In 1635, John Winthrop, son of Governor Winthrop of Massachusetts, 
came from England having a commission from Lord Say and Lord 
Brook appointing him governor in 'Cbnnecticut. Two thousand dollars 
were gnven him for the purpose of erecting a fort at the mouth of the 
Connecticut river. He built the fort and named it Sa.Vbrook fort, fit- 
ting it up with an armament he brought with him from England. 

Not unlike a mediaeval baron who ])uilt his castle on a rockv bat- 



tlement overlooking a liiuhway leading thi-oiigli a niuuntain pass and 
levied toll under the excuse of ])roteeting those who passed by, so all 
vessels passing up the river were now recpiired to pay toll. Settlers 
from ^Massachusetts Bay in Windsor, Wethersfield and Hartford to 
avoid a contest paid the toll. 8pringtield refused to pay. Hence arose 
the most serious controversy that ever occurred between the two col- 
onies. The general court of ^Massachusetts when appeialed to for pro- 
tection responded stoutly in defence of Springfield. In 1644, when the 
Connecticut settlements bought the fort, they included in the purchase 
all claims against Springfield for unpaid tolls. When these claims were 
urged upon the attention of the conmiissioners of the united colonies 
their decision was long deferred until the commissioners from ]Massa- 
chusefts refusing to act, the others deci'ded in favor of the claimants; 
but Springfield stubbornly refused payment. Massachusetts, siding 
strongly with Springfield, retaliated by attempting to levy toll upon all 
vessels of other colonies entering the harbor of Boston. The colonies 
would not endure this, and to prevent the breaking up of the union of 
the colonies, the measure was withdrawn. The claims of C'onnecticut 
for tolls .still remain unpaid. 

The boinidaries of Springfield were from time to time so extended 
as to include a good share if not all of the territory afterwards known 
as Westfield, and that of several other towns. In 1647, the general 
court issued the following order : 

"It is ordered by this Court, that Woronoko upon Connecticut 
River wthin ys jurisdiction, shall be. and be reputed as a part of ye 
towne 'O'f Springfield, & liable to all charges there as other pts of the 
same toune; vntill errecting some other plantation more convenient. 
it shall be thought fitt by ye Court to annex it to such new plantation." 

Holland tells us that "at the ^lay court. 1662, certain gentlemen 
who appear to have belonged in Windsor and Dorchester, presented a 
petition, representing themselves to be much in want of land, and ask- 
ing for a tract six miles s(iuare at Woronoco, to be joined with the farms 
of 'the late much honored ]Maj-Gen. Atherton and €lapt. Roger Clapp 
of Dorchester, ' to whom it appears grants had previously been made by 
the court. The petition was signed by fifteen individuals. The depu- 
ties voted to grant the petition, and decreed that the farms alluded to 
should belong to the plantation, in respect to public charges, and that 
'the order for Woronoco henceforth to lie to Springfield should be void ;' 
provided the petitioners should settle themselves and a minister within 
three years; otherwise the land was to belong to Springfield until a 
plantation shoidd be settled there. But this scheme seems to have en- 
tirely miscarried, as no considerable settlement occurred there until 
1666, and among those who held titles confirmed by a residence of five 
years, thereafter, the name of but one of the petitioners can be found, 
viz., George Phelps, who emigrated from Windsor. The first settlers 
were from Springfield. Windsor, and Northampton." 

p]nsign Thomas ('ooper seems in 1658 to have received the first 
grant of land in Woronoco from the town of Springfield. It was lo- 



cated "on the northeast side o'f Worronoke River, to wit., betwixt the 
brook called Tomhaninuicke and the river called Worrinoke River, from 
tJie month of the said River Tomhaminuicke, aii'd soe np. soe hig'h to- 
wards Pochasnck as nntil he t'ometh to the hill Wasapskotnck. " This 
grant inclnded. it wonld seem, most of the allnvial lands- on the north 
side of the Westfield and extended from Brass or Prospect hill on the 
west to the stream flowing from Springdale mills on the east. Across 
the east part of this tract, after 1664, passed the road from Northamp- 
tftn to Windsior. 

In 1660, March 18. "There is granted Siaimuel Chapin a piece of 
land at Woronoi-o, being twenty and thirty acres approximately 'lying 
on the east side of the second brook, that is on this side of Thomas 
Cooper's farm there and is to be bounded by the hill on the north and 
the river on the south, provided those lands shall be considered by the 
court to belong to this town and he purchase the said land of the In- 
dians, and he is not to hinder pasvsage through it to other lands bevond 
i1.' " 

This grant from Springfield recognized, as did other original 
grants, the ownership of the Indians. Those to whom lands were origi- 
nally granted, were to purchase them of the Indians, in order to obtain 
a complete title. 

Judging from the records and traditions. Walter Lee, John Sackett, 
and (ieorge Saxton were the first permanent settlers on the north side 
ol the Westfield river. The site of ^Ir. Sackett 's house is still shown. 
He is believed to have been the ancestor of those of the name who have 
since resided in Westfield. Benjamin, the son of George Saxton, who 
lived for a time on the i)art of the Northampton and Windsor road run- 
ning from the present road from Westfield to Springfield, to the hamlet. 
Little river, was the first ehild born among the settlers of Westfield. 
He was born in 1666 and was among the first to give proof by his life in 
Westfield that it is a place favorable to longevity. He died at the age 
of eighty-eig'ht. 

As the okl Indian fort was said to have stood on the south side of 
the Westfield river near its confluence with Little river, the area be- 
tween the rivers was called the fort side. This name may have been 
perpetuated because part of the area was fortified after a time by pali- 
sades. The land lying north of the Westfield river was ealled the north 
side and that south of the river but east of Little river, the south side. 

Forests and Glades. — We should be glad to have some photographie 
views of the lands on the Westfield river, as they were before they were 
occupied by white men, but no man used a camera irr those days. The 
best lands were annually cleared by the Indians in many places by kind- 
ling fires in November that consumed leaves, underbrush and dead 
limbs on the ground. A Mr. Graves, writing in 1629, says, the country 
"is very beautiful in open lands mixed with goodly woods and again 
open plains, in some places 500 acres, some more, some less, not much 
troublesome to clear for the plough." "The grass and weeds grow up 



to a man's face; in the low lands and by fresh rivers atoiindanee of grass 
and large meadows Avithont any tree or shrnb. * ' 

There was plenty of land ready for the plow. The fires of the In- 
dians had swept widely. The uplands bordering the lowlands were 
often thinly covered with trees, and the dense forests beyond the reaeh 
of the meadow fires were generally free from underbrush, so that hunt- 
ers and companies of soldiers mounted or on foot easily penetrated the 
forests in all directions. Owing to the annual burnings good timber in 
some of the river towns was not as plenty a,s has been supposed. West- 
field was better provided than Springfield. The western hills were near- 
er. Springfield voted in 1647 "that no timber, boards, planks, shingle- 
timber, nor pipe-staves should be carried out of the town from the east 
side of the river. ' ' 

Woronoco Committee — At a town meeting held at Springfield. Feb. 
7, 1664. Capt. John P.vnchon, Nathaniel Ely. George Colton. Benjamin 
Cooley, and Elizur Holyoke were chosen to be a standing committee "to 
have the sole power to order matters concerning the lands in Woronoco 
and for admittance of inhabitants for that place and for granting of 
lands there or any other affairs that concern that place, and that may 
conduce to the settling the said towne. This committee to hold till the 
town see cause otherwise to order." 

This connnittee soon made gr'aiits to Capt. Aron Cooke, Thomas 
Day. John IngersoU, Joseph Leeds. ^Nloses Cooke, John Osborne, John 
Holyoke, David Ashley. Thomas Noble. Sergeant Stebbins, Samuel 
Mansfield. John Ponder, John Root. Ben.jamin Cooley. Hugh Dudley, 
and Thomas Orton. 

Jan. 9, 1667, the committee declared the lands of certain grantees 
"forfeited fully, unless they begin the work of settlers in fencing, etc." 
"It is ordered that Capt. Cooke. Thos. Dewey. John Williams, John 
Sat-ket, John Ponder. David Ashley and ^Ir. Cornish shall view the 
land to be fenced, and determine where the fence shall be set. what 
quantity there is. and where each man's portion shall be. and this work 
t(. be attended to forthwith." 

"It is further ordered that all such as have lands granted at Wor- 
onoak shall meet there on Tuesday fortnight next, if the weather Avill 
allow, or the next fayre and fit da.v, to consider and agree about fencing 
and other matters of concernment, and if due notice to the persons con- 
cerned (that are now absent) then such as shall come ma.v act and de- 
termine what tends to the speedy carrving on of the fencing and other 
necessary affairs." 

At a meeting of the committee for AVoronoco. ]\Iarch 2, 1667, 
Thomas Noble. David Ashley and John Root made request that their 
home lots westerly from the Indian fort may be each two rods broader 
for convenience in setting their fence, the ground of the present line 
being wet. At the same meeting George Fyler makes request for a 
home lot "on that side of the river b.v the Indian fort." 

Certain lands ' ' on the north side of Woronoak river above the cel- 
lars" Avere granted. Also certain other lands were granted "on the 



south side of the river not yet disposed of, to Ambrose Fowler, George 
Saxtoii and Jonathan Alvord. " 

Among the various order of the committee. ]\[arch 13. 1667. is the 
order that the "gate by (John) Sacket's be well hung for the security 
of the field bj' the 25th of this inst. ]\Iareh and after yt time who ever 
shall leave open or not shut the gate shall pa\' os to the use of the pro- 
prietors. ' ' 

This gate it is thought was a little east and south of the site of the 
Springdale mills, probably where the road from Northampton to Wind- 
sor entered the common field. This road held its southerly coufse to the 
river, where there was a ford called in some of the old documents the 
' ' neck riding. ' ' The road then continued easterly along the south bank 
of the Wtestfield river, until it approached the present site of the county 
bridge; then it took the present course of the road running southerly 
from the bridge to the hamlet now known as Little river. Somewhere 
across this road, perhaps where the road left the conunon field as it pro- 
ceeded to the South, another gate was hung. This was to be closed by 
those passing, under the same penaltv, "for the securitv of the corn 
field." 

Division of Lands — While a considerable tract was held as a com- 
mon field it was found desirable to allot a home lot to each householder. 
Later the common field was divided. 

"At a meeting of the proprietors of land of Woronoak on the fort 
side March the 13th, 1668, for laying out the proportions of land on the 
fort side." 

"All the proprietors unanimously agree that for the most equall 
disbursing and dividing their generall portions of land, the land to be 
now laid out shall be divided into three parts, one part to be next to the 
fort river shall be accounted or goe in lieu of meadow, where every man 
shall have his share, only Serg. Stebbins. Thos. Bancroft, & that where- 
as William Brooke's allotment are to haive their shares (viz.) three acres 
(not these but) against their home lotts in the low land there, which is 
instead thereof, this for the first part or di^dsion of land which is ac- 
counted the meadow division. 

"Nextly the plowland is to lye in two divisions and every man to 
have his proportion, in each Division of the plow land. And for the 
laying of men's land, that is the place where each man's portion of land 
shall lye. every proprietor agreeing to acquiesce in that place where his 
lott shall fall. And for the beginning of the first division of plowland, 
it shall be at the lower-most or southeasterly side, there the first lot is to 
lye, & from thence to goe upward or Westerly. 

' ' The first lott came out to Thomas Gunn. who lyes next the river on 
the easterly syde of all the other lotts where he hath seventeen acres, 
length 160 rod, breadth 10 rods at the front and 24 rods at ye west and 
besides this there is 2 rods broad allowed more to this lott for a high 
way downe to the river all the length of it." 

Then follows the description of the lots laid out (1) from the 
meadow land (2) from the first division of the plowland and (3) from 



tile second division of tlie i)lo\vland. Thr iiMincs oi' tbo parties to wliom 
lliesc three tlivision.s were severally aj^port ioiied liy lot are: 



! 


1 






ision 
most 




> C 




_^ 


^ c 


o 




o 


plowland, 

om lower 

upwards. 




,.^ 


o o 


v»- 


-o _2 ^ 


v^. 


14 No. 7 


o 

V 


Mead 
Divisi 


o 


owlan 
ng 
ng up 


o 

Vi 

V 




O 




o 


First pi 
beginni 
and go 


O 


Seconc 
sion fr 
running 


Thomas Gunn 


1 


1 7 acres 


6 


6 acres 


5 


9 acres 


David Ashley 


2 


11 " 


3 


4 " 


3 


5 " 


John Ponders 


3 


11 " 


1 


4 " 


12 


3 " 


Sergeant Stebbins 


4 


13 " 






7 


7 " 


Joseph Whiting 


5 


16 " 


5 


6 " 






William Brookes 


6 


10 " 






10 


5 " 


Thomas Bancroft 


7 


11 " 






4 


6 " 


Hugh Dudley 


8 


6 " 


2 


2 " 


1 


4 " 


Isaac Phelps 


9 


10 ' 


10 


3 " 


8 


5 " 


George Phelps 


10 


26 " 


8 


8 " 


6 


14 " 


Thomas Root 


11 


8 " 


9 


3 " 


2 


5 " 


John Root 


12 


11 " 


7 


4 " 


11 


6 " 


Thomas Noble 


13 


13 " 


4 


4 " 


9 


6 " 



The term "Hundred Aeres" was applied to the lowlands sovith of 
Little river, between the Sonthwiek road and the railroad running- south 
•I'oni Westliehl. 

"An account of the land called hundred acres": 

Joseph Whitini: 16 acres 

Thomas l\i>ot 7 acres 

Thomas iStebhins 3 acres 

Tsracl Dewey 6 acre.s 

Isaac Phelps (i acres 

( Jeorye Phelps l(i aeres 

Iluuh l)u(Ile\ 5 aeres 

John. Poiulei- 7 acres 

Thomas (innn 10 neres 

David Ashley 7 aeres 

John Root 7 acr^s 

Thomas Xoble ■ 7 acres 



" 18th Feb.. 1668. Grants of land made by the town. John Saeket 
hath liberty to lay downe the five a<'res of bo.iiiry meadow and to take 
up five aeres on that side of the river elsewhere so that it he not to the 
detriment of former a:rants. " 
19th March 

1669. Saekett's ereek is frranted to Mr. \Vhitin<,' & David Ash- 

ley, to set a mill thereon to prind and also the land about the ereek is 
tiranted them for a. pasture, ^lore granted them for eneouraiiement an 
hundred aeres of land & liberty to ehoose it in two places." 

TOWN ORGAXIZATIOX. 

At a meetintr at AVoronoco the 21st of Jan. 1668. it was "voted that 
James (,'ornish, (leorge Phelps, Thomas Dewey, and Tho. Noble shall 
o:oe to Sprinu-field the first Tuesday in Pe'bruary next at a towne meet- 
ing to propound to the town for the settlement of our place and affayres. 
in particular to determine where the lyne shall ran betwixt Springfield 
and us and to appoynt persons to lay out the bounds granted us by the 
Honor 'd Genii Court and to allow us to be a township of ourselves and 
signify the same to the honoied Genii Court etc." 

Springfield we find acquiesced in the wishes of the proprietors, so 
that later in the year, on the 11th of August, the settlers voted unani- 
mously "that we will look out for a minister to carry on the work of 
God in this place." The record of this meeting is dated Streamfield, ap- 
parently the name first chosen by the settlers as they were about to or- 
ganize the town. 

Defenses against the Indians. — One or more houses were built as 
forts by the settlers and during the often rei^irring Indian wars several 
were forted. i. e., the walls were made bullet-proof, ammunition and pro- 
visions were stored, and measures taken to extinguish fire in case the 
houses were set on fire by an enemy. Some of these forted houses were 
surrounded by palisades. These palisades were made by splitting sec- 
tions of the trunks of trees of moderate size in halves and so straighten- 
ing and scoring the edges, that when they were set in the ground edge to 
edge they would form a continuous wall or clo.sed fence, not less than 
two inches thick and eight or more feet high. The tops of the palisades 
were pointed. The palisades enclosing the central hamlet of Westfield 
are said at one time, during King Philip's and other Indian wars, to 
have been about two miles in circuit. If one would trace the position 
of this 'Wooden wall or fence, as it was at the close of Philip's war, let him 
leave ^Nlain street at its .iiunction with ]\Ieadow street, and facing the 
east, turn to the left, follow the brow of the meadow terrace around be- 
lli nd the ]\Ioseley house in its sinuous course till he reaches the bank of 
Westfield river, theni-e along the bank of the river nearly or cpiite to 
the mouth of Little river, then along its bank until the brook that cross- 
es Noble street is reached, then westerly along by this brook, at length 
turning from it by a curve to the north to reach our limit of departure. 



10 

It is evident if the roui-se of the palisades has been correetly out- 
lined, that between the ^Moseley house and the bridge over Little river, 
palisades onee stood opposite to the entrance of Noble street close upon 
what is now Main street. The western gate of the enclosed area was not 
far from the west side of Meadow street at its .junction with Main street. 
The brow of the terrace along Avhieh the northern line of the palisades 
ran was made doubly strong for defense by the steep bank that fell 
away from the palisades and by the swampy land at its base. The high 
banks of the rivers also formed a fine rampart, rendering the palisades 
along the banks more effective. The area within the palisades is some- 
times designated in the old records as "tlie fort." Owing to the fact 
that at times those settlei*s who could not avail themselves of the forted 
houses without the palisades, were obliged to find })laces of abode by 
building within, it was called at times the place of compact dwellings. 

Westfield, at the time of its settlement, was the town farthest west 
in Massachusetts. It has been said that Mt. Tekoa. now standing upon 
the western border of the town, continued to mark the boundary of 
Massachusetts and the limits of civilization so far as the homes of her 
people were concerned, until 1725. 

The rocky hills west of Tekoa. to those accustomed to the lowlands, 
the plateaus and the slopes of the valley of the Connecticut, were unde- 
sirable as places of abode. When the sons and daughters of the early 
settlers of Westfield sought new lands they went forty miles west and 
rested not until they found soil in the valley of the Housatonic as at- 
tractive as that of their early home. Another ob.jection to the settle- 
ment of the part of ]\Iassachusetts west of Westfield was that New York, 
with its system of land rents, claimed the territory. The western 
boundary of the Bay State was long a matter of dispute. 

Westfield, then, for half a century, was the most western town of 
the state ; and. in proportion to its number of inha:bitants, had to do with 
a larger number of Indians than those dwelling in older towais. Great- 
ei caution was here needed in protecting the families of the settlers. 
The first fort hou>se as well as those from time to time subsequently 
"forted." was solidly built, the space between the outside and inside 
boarding of the walls being filled with material impervious to bullets. 
An ample cellar was the refuge of women aud children when the fort 
was attacked. Whenever the surrounding Indians were unfriendly 
or hostile, the strong palisade, extended as we have seen, nearly two 
miles in circuit, was guarded. 

In the stress of Philip s war, settlers who had ventured to make a 
home outside of the area enclosed by palisades, complied with the plans 
of a committee of the general court in 1667, requiring settlers to form 
more compact communities. The proprietors within the palisades 
agreed to break their lots and allow the outsiders to settle upon them. 
In payment for every acre so relinquished, two acres were received in 
outlying lots. 

Relation to the Indians. — The Indian inhabitants were not numer- 
ous, though it is not easy to estimate the number in the valley or in the 



11 

immediate vicinity of Westtield. The rights of the Indians were gen- 
erally respected. The settlers bought from them the lands they occu- 
pied. The Indians were Avell treated. It was for their interest to keep 
the peace that their' trade with the whites might not be interrupted. 
They managed their own affairs, though when living in the neighbor- 
hood of a settlement it was their vnstom in this valley to look to the au- 
thorities maintained in the settlement to administer justice. The rec- 
ord of these early times show that the settlers tried to be just to the In- 
dians as to their own people, consequently the Indians usually submitted 
to the verdicts of the settlers when penalties were visited by the magis- 
trates upon Indians who had wronged the English. It was not uncom- 
mon for the magistrates in issuing a warrant to arrest an Indian to give 
instructions to the constable to abstain from force. The Indians were 
allowed in several towns to place their clusters of wigwams on land 
owned by the town and to hold them unmolested. Under very reason- 
able conditions they were allowed in some towns to build forts upon 
town land. 

King Philip's War. — In 1675. only six years after the incorpora- 
tion of the town of Westfield, the storm that had been gathering burst 
upon the colonies. For three years the savages burned dwellings, 
sometimes destroying whole villages, slew men, women and children, and 
threatened the utter destruction of the English and all they had 
Vvrought. The terror, the anxiety, the suffering of the settlers in the 
valley of the Connecticut during this period no pen can describe. Those 
living in Westfield, few in number, and forming a sort of outpost on the 
advancing line of settlement, seemed most exposed to attack. Yet they 
held their ground, though frequently urged to fall back toward the 
more populous towns. Perliaps the newness of the settlement, which 
prevented the accumulation of stores and other things desired by the 
IndiaiLS. led them to leave Westfield comparatively unharmed, while 
they phnidered and burned most of the other towns in the valley with- 
in the limits of ^Massachusetts. Northfield was bounded on the north by 
the line of the state, while Springfield was the town farthest to the south. 
Between these were Westfield, Northampton, Hadley, Hatfield and Deer- 
field. Springfield and Northampton were the older towns. The newer 
towns were composed largely of emigrants from the others. Farming 
was the business of the time, and when a new generation came to man- 
hood, finding the best land along the river occupied, they felt the need 
of occupying new territory. 

As a result of the terrible devastation of the first year of the war, 
Deerfield and Northampton were abandoned, and the stress of the war 
was so severe in the eastern part of the state that the authorities could 
not easily decide what course to pursue. The council at Boston, limited 
in means, in need of men to complete the depleted ranks, finding it im- 
possible to properly garrison the towns in the valley, planned to concen- 
trate the settlements b.v having the inhabitants of other to\vns move to 
Springfield and Hadley. 

Events soon proved the wisdom of remaining at Westfield instead 



12 

of inoviiifi: to Sprin<rfiekl. October 5, Sprinfrfield was attacked and most 
of its houses biii-iied. Ovviiii; to the destruction of their corn mill, tlie 
peoph^ of S'pritig'field resorted to Wlestfield to have their corn ground. 
Fortunately for both towns, the mills owned by three Dewey brothers. 
Thomas. Jo.siah and .Jedadiah. and Joseph Whiting, on Two-Mile brook, 
the outlet to iConyamond ponds had been completed in 1H72. These 
mills were on the Windsor road, a iiiih' or more west of the sehoolhouse 
at Little river. The Dewey jrrist mill was the first jurist mill built in 
Westtield. 

The minister. Rev. Edward Taylor, noted some of the events of 
Philip's war. He says, bejiinninu- in the year 1675, "but summer com- 
ing opened a door nnto that desolating war began l)y Philip, Sachem of 
the Pokoneket Indians by which this handful was sorely pressed, yet 
sovereignly preserved, but yet not so as that we should wlioUy be ex- 
empted from the fury of war. for our soil was moistened b\- the blood 
of three Springfield men, young (loodman Dnmbleton, who came to our 
mill, and two sons of Goodman Brooks, who came here to look after the 
iron on the land he had lately bought of Mr. John Pynehon, Esq. Who 
being persuaded by Springfield folk, went to accompany them, but fell in 
the way by the first assault of the enemy made npon us, at which time 
they burned Mr. Cornish's house to ashes and also John Sacket's with 
his barn and what was in it, being the first snowy day of winter: thev 
also at this time lodged a bullet in George Granger's leg, which was, the 
next morning taken out by ]\Ir. Bulkley. and the wound soon healed. 
It was .judged that the enemy did receive some loss at this time, because 
in the ashes of Mr. Cornish's house were found pieces of the bones of a 
man lying about the length of a man in the ashes. Also in winter, some 
skulking rascals, upon a Lord's day, in the time of our afternoon wor- 
ship fired Ambrose Fowler's house and barn; but in the latter end and 
giving up of winter, the last snowy day we had thereof, we discovering 
an end of Indians, did send out to make a full discovery of the same, de- 
signing only three or four to go out. with order that they should not as- 
sault them, but to our woe and smart, there going 10 or 12. not as scouts, 
but as assailants, rid furiously upon the enemy from whom they re- 
ceived a furious charge whereby Mcses Cook, an inhabitant, and iC'lem- 
ence Bates, a soldier, lost their livas. Clemence in the place and Moses 
at night. Besides which we lost none of the town, only at the Falls 
fight at Deerfield. there going nine from our lown. three garrison sol- 
diers fell. Thus, though we lay in the very rode of the enemy, we were 
preserved, only the war had so impoverished us that many times we 
were ready to leave the place." 

During the first year of the war. nud earlier. Westtield and other 
towns in Western ^lassachusetts repaired and completed their lines of 
palisades. This work went on during the winter of IfiTo-fi. which is 
said to have been a mild season. The Indians seem to have retired be- 
yond the northern boundaries of ^Massachusetts. 

The condition of affairs in the winter ofl675-6 was in Westfield 
most disheartening. Deerfield and Xorthfield, newer outlvinii" towns 



13 

like Westfield. had suffered terribly and had been abandoned. How- 
ever mild the early winter, later the eold was intense, and the snow was 
deep ; yet this may have helped to hold the Indians in their wigwams in 
the valleys of Vermont. The population, as Edward Taylor said, was 
but a "handful." probably less than one hundred and fifty, possibly not 
over one hundred, all told. Some of the men had fallen. Some, dis- 
couraged with the outlook, had moved to larger towns that seemed safer 
from attack. Soldiers left by ]\Ia,ior Treat, to garrison the town, when 
he led his division back to 'Connecticut, were billeted upon the house- 
holders ; less had been planted than usual. The troublous times and 
the withdrawal of men for defense and for war had left what was plant- 
ed in a measure uncared for, and in part, unharvested. Grain and 
other supplies had been levied to supply the needs of the forces. How 
to husband the limited supplies for man and beast so as to survive the 
winter, was a perplexing problem, and who could tell how soon they 
would be assaulted ! 

As William G. Bates has written : "In the case of our fathers, 
there was nothing to sustain them but their own fortitude, inspired by 
their own high hopes of the future. It was no holiday warfare which 

was impending The result was to be literally victory or 

death, not a death to them only, but a death of extermination of all their 
kindred." 

"Nor can we fail to admire, also, the heroism of those, who were 
Jeft almost alone in their homes of precarious safety, when the stalwart 
men of the settlement went forth to war. The infirm and those of im- 
mature age, were their only defenders. It was for them to protect the 
families against a stealthy foe, whose war-whoop was followed, at once, 
by the torch and the tomahawk, which too often awoke and silenced a 
whole settlement. They were the guardians, who. from the summit of 
the watch-tower, were to watch, and listen through the long days, aiid 
the longer nights, for the approach of the savage and to patrol, during 
the same periods, along the poorly constructed palisades. In the mean- 
time, the anxious mothers were snatching their broken sliunbers, in the 
embraces of their terrified children, their rest disturbed by dreams of 
danger, and visions of disaster." 

The news from the valleys of Manchester and Sunderland in Ver- 
mont, where late in the year 1675 the Indians had made their camps, 
was not encouraging. Two of the captives taken by tlie Indians were 
purposely allowed full opportunity to count their rank and file, when 
drawn up in full array, and then freed and sent to Albany. They re- 
ported that twenty-one hundred were well armed, evidently ready to 
slaughter and devastate until the English should be driven from the 
land. The effectiveness of this body of Indians was increased by the 
knowledge and skill of those Indians who had lived near the settlements 
and mingled with the English. 

The wasteful feasting and revelling in the camp rapidly reduced 
the stores gained by pillage the season before. Soon a large division 
with limited rations was upon the warpath, as fierce for prey as hungry 



14 

wolves. Early in ^March, Lancaster. Chelmsford and a half-dozen other 
places in the ea.stern part of the state were attacked. 

On the 14th of March, the yells of the savages on all sides of the 
stockade awoke the people of Northampton to the terrific fact that the 
town was assaulted. The Indians with unwonted fury made the attack 
on three sides of the stockade. Soon they were pouring into one open- 
ing. Four houses outside and one inside were soon in flames. The sol- 
diers of the garrison, under the leadership of Capt. Turner, and those of 
the two 'Connecticut companies, under Major Treat, who had providen- 
tially reached Nortliampton the night before — less than two hundred in 
all — in the lurid light of the ])urning buildings hemmed in the Indians 
through the opening. These Indian.s ifound themselves entrapped and 
never after did a body of assaulting Indians rush into a stockade 
through a narrow opening. 

The successful repulse of this impetuous assault of the Indians 
seems to have effectually arrested their advance to the south. Had they 
succeeded, or had their loss been less severe, Westfield, the next town 
at that time on the south, must have suffered. The little settlement at 
Westfield with its slender garrison could hardly have survived the at- 
tack of so large a force of Indians a.s swarmed that night around the 
stockade at Northampton. 

Companies of Indians frequently changing their camp, ever intent 
upon plunder, stealthily prowling about in the neighborhood of the 
towns, continiied to terrify the English and to gather booty. Soon ' 
after the attack on Northampton, a large body of Indians appeared at 
Hatfield, but iCiapt. Samuel Moseley was prepared for them and they 
were not anxious to repeat the severe experiences at Northampton. 

On the 26th of March, 1676, a company of people on their way to 
church from Longmeadow to Springfield were waylaid by Indians. 
Two were killed, two wounded and two women and their babes captured. 
During the winter, two men were killed and two houses burned in AVest- 
field. 

Haras.sed on every side by attacks of Indians, now here, now there, 
and unable to adec[uately garrison the towns against such numerous and 
ubiquitous foes, the Connecticut council sent a flag of truce up the river, 
asking for an exchange of prisoners, and suggesting a treatv of peace. 
The Indians who had enjoyed the just dealings of the people of West- 
field, and tribes who had enjoyed the hospitality of towns in Massa- 
chusetts farther up the valley, were ready for peace. But the larger 
body of the Indians parleyed, that they might lay in a store of provi- 
sions at the spring fisheries and plant the deserted meadows of Deerfield 
and some other fields. April was a cpiiet month ; the Indians were busy 
fishing and carousing. They were gathered in large numbers in May 
about the falls above Deerfield on the iClonnecticut river. 

Though Capt. Turner was too ill to undertake so hazardous an en- 
terprise as an attack upon the Indian.s, he was appointed to lead. Three 
of the nearly one hundred and fifty mounted men, who nuide the night 
march from Hatfield to what is now known as Turner's Falls, were 



15 

Westiield men. These brave men surprised the Indians at break of day. 
v.hile they were yet sleeping otit' the night '.s deiiauch, the eonsequenee of 
a sii'ccessfnl raid upon the village of Hattield, yiay 30th. 1676. This 
slaughter of Indians at the Falls, was the severest blow yet inflicted by 
the English upon the Indiaas in the valle.v. The courage and endurance 
of the attacking party, though the Indians greatly outnumbered them, 
impressed the Indians with the unconquerable valor of the English. 
The fight at Turner's Falls, where so man.v Indians were slain, or, in 
the panic, drowned in the river was one of the most decisive battles in 
Philip's war. This battle, togetlier with the repulse of the well-plan- 
ned attack on Northampton, the hostilit.v of the ^lohawks and disputes 
and disagreements that arose between the sachems and tribes soon led 
to the disintegration of the Indians forces. Still the inhabitants in the 
valle.v and those in other parts of the state could not divine when the.v 
would again unite. Indians were still prowling about in diiferent places 
shooting men, occasionally stealing cattle, and committing other depre- 
dations. 

On the 19tli of September. 1676. a party of Indians from Canada 
descended upon Hatfield, killing twelve men, wounding four, and tak- 
ing seventeen prisoners. This was the heaviest loss of men. women and 
children .yet experienced b.v any Hampshire town. On the evening of 
the same day, the raiding party was at Deerfield. Five men were there 
erecting houses on their abandoned farms, hoping soon to reinstate their 
families. The five men were captured and though hotly pursued, the 
Indians made good their escape to iCIanada. 

Not knowing that this was the last raid of the war, and knowing 
that the skill of the Indians, increased by three years of active warfare, 
made them, if again united, more dangerous than ever, the general 
court appointed a committee to bring the residents in towns more close- 
ly together in order to better provide for their defense. 

Philip's war so far as concerted action of Indian tribes was con- 
cerned, was over ; but roving bands of IndiaiLs still demanded unceasing 
vigilance in guarding life and propert.v. 

Early Highways. — The settlers first made their wa.v through the 
forests and across glades b.y following the Indian trails. Some of these 
trails were the result of no little experience on the part of the Indians in 
finding the most feasible routes over mountains, across streams and 
along valleys. The sons of the forest have proved unwittingly the pre- 
liminary surveyors of man.v of our old highwa.vs. 

As' early as 1635 and 1636 the towns of Springfield, Wethersfield, 
and Hartford were incorporated. From these towns came the first set- 
tlers of Northampton. Those from Springfield went on the east side of 
the river. Most of those from the other towns, went by a track on the 
west side of the river, before the town of Westfield was incorporated. 
Northampton was organized as a town as earl.v as 1655, earlier than the 
record of any English settlers in Westfield. 

The county of Hampshire, then including all Western Massachu- 
setts, was incorporated in 1662. Two years later by authority of the 



16 

county two roads or "cart ways'' as they were called, were laid out. 
One road was to be on the east side of the river to connect Hadley and 
Northampton with Sprinufield. the other to connect Hadley and North- 
ampton with Windsor and Hartford. As this latter road is the oldest 
highway crossing' the territory of Westtield and is in part now main- 
tained as a town hig'hwa.v. we give its course, taken from the records at 
Northampton, as noted by Sylvester Judd. The road from Northamp- 
ton and Hadley to Sprinij^field. from thence "to the dividing lyne be- 
tweene the iCollonyes" (of ^Massachusetts and 'Connecticut) is first out- 
lined and then proceeding from south to north the road on the w^est side 
of the river, as follows : 

"And from the said dividing lyne on the West side of ye river to- 
wards Waranoak, in the way that is now improved, commonly called ye 
new way, that is to say. to two mile brooke fourty rods, and from thence 
to Waranoak hill where the trading house stood twenty rods, and from 
thence to ye passage of ye river where ye way now lies six rods, and 
from thence through ye other meddow to ye great hill as the way now 
lies six rodds and from thence to Munhan river forty rods, and from 
]\lunhan river to ye lotts now laid out neere ye mill river fourty rods, 
and from thence to the town of Northampton ffoure rods. 

This road and the road east of the river for nearly half a centurv 
were the main lines of transportation for all goods brought into West- 
ern ]\Iassaclnisetts and for all products carried out, whether the goods 
were from places east, south or west, or whether the products were des- 
tined for places in any one of those directions. If grain, very largel.v 
a substitute for money, beef and pork, or lumber, were to be sent to 
Boston in pa.yment of taxes, or for purposes of trade, this freight was 
generally carted to Windsor, below the falls or to Hartford, and thence 
transported by water. The carting was over the same roads if the 
freight w^as to or from New York. 

The way from the valley to the west was from AVestfield over the 
hills through Blandford, to Kinderhook and thence to Albany. 

Among the captives taken at Hatfield by the Hidians during their 
last raid upon towns in the valle.v, were the wife and three children of 
Benjamin Waite and the wife and tw^o children of Stephen Jennings. 

The two husbands procuring the requisite papers from the general 
court and appropriation toward the expenses, went to 'Clanada whither 
the retreating Indians had gone. There they found the prisoners. 
After tedious negotiations, occupying nearly two months, the.v suc- 
ceeded in ransoming all the captives. As soon as the people of Hatfield 
learned that the company under a French escort had in spite of the lin- 
gering winter reached Albany, a company from Hatfield with horses 
and provisions started to meet the returning captives. Going ])y wa.v 
of Westtield they met them at Kinderhook, ]\Iay 27, 1678. They ail 
returned by way of Westtield to Hatfield. For nearly a century this 
route seems to have been almost the only one in Massachusetts from the 
valle.v of the Connecticut to the valley of the Hudson. 

Over this trail passed Indians before and during Philip's war on 



17 

their way to and from Coniiectieut, avoiding AVestfield, but coming near 
enough at times to excite great fear. Along this way during the many 
years of the French and Indian wars went horsemen and footmen and 
militar\' supplies. For many years a fort was maintained at what is 
now Blandford to furnish convoy and defence and quartere for rest. 
General Amherst and his army on his way from Boston to iCanada, des- 
tined by the aid of Wolfe and Prideaux to strike the tinal blow to the 
tottering domination of the French on this continent, stopped one night 
at Westtield, another at Blandford, another at Sandisfield and another 
at 3Ionterey. 

During the war for independence, the teams mustered in Westfield 
and elsewhere to get through the snow or over the mud and the hills 
from Westfield to Albany, were sometimes of no ordinary size. It is 
a matter of history that "it took twenty yoke of oxen and eighty men to 
convey a mortar over the hilLs to West Point." Twenty of these eighty 
men would be reciuired to drive the oxen. WSiether the remaining sixty 
were employed in opening the drifts or in strengthening the rude 
bridges and in bedding the mud holes with boughs is not stated. 

A part of the prisoners taken at Bennington, in 1777, passed over 
this road on their way through Westtield to Boston. 

This road was the route of Burgoyne's army after its defeat at 
Stillwater, on their way to Boston. After a three days' halt at Otis, 
they moved on. stopping one night in Westfield, we are told. After the 
war, this road was designated, "The great road from Boston to Albany." 
It was the only road between these places directly crossing Berkshire 
county. Over this road came Washington when visiting New England 
after the war. He was for a little wdiile the guest of General Shepard, 
then living on Franklin street. Other events worthy of note that oc- 
curred along this highway, however many, are not discoverable in the 
scanty chronicles of the past, or, if recorded, have escaped our notice. 
The intersection of these highways in Westfield, the one running north 
and south with the "great road" running east and west, has tended to 
promote the intelligence of the people of Westfield and to render them 
more cosmopolitan than people living remote from avenues of travel 
and traffic. 

The way connecting Springfield and Westfield was laid out as a 
highway at an early date. 

Westfield, then, at the time of its incorporation, 1669, was not so 
much of an out-of-the-way place as many have supposed. It was on the 
line of communication of all the towns in the valley, with. Albany and 
places farther west. It was on a main line of communication between 
towns in the valley north and south of Westfield. 

The Early French and English Wars. — King Philip's war had end- 
ed in 1677. As the Indians no longer attacked towns nor massed their 
warriors for desolating expeditions, the blessing's of peace returned. 
Confidence was gradually restored. Houses and barns were rebuilt, the 
western towns were strengthened in numbers and in wealth by the ar- 
rival of new settlers. The areas of occupancy were widened. Forests 

9 



18 

hitherto undisturbed by the woodman's axe began to echo with its 
sound and open lands untouehed by the implements of tillage were sub- 
jected to the plough. Prosperity returned. The abundance of good 
land easily obtained as yet in the valley, made it comparatively easy to 
reduce the indebtedness incurred by the war. 

The years of peace, however, were few. In 1688 William and I\Iary 
became the sovereigns of England. The war known as King W'illiam's 
v.-ar between the French and p]nglisli involved the colonists in fresh dif- 
ficulties. This was the tirst of four conflicts, which, as Francis Park- 
man remarks, "ended in giving Great Britain a maritime and colonial 
preponderance over France and Spain. " "So if ar as concerns the colo- 
nies and the sea" he adds, "these several wars may be regarded as a 
single and protracted one, broken by intervals of truce." Like the soli- 
tary oaks upon the mountainside, that i-ome to full strength and ma- 
turity exposed to the sunlight and the storms, so each New England set- 
tlement during many years experienced its vicissitudes of peace and 
war. of plenty and want, of joy and sorrow, through all, growing in 
strength and in wisdom. At length the character and culture of the 
people of New England havcj come to determine the character of a na- 
tion. 

During King William's war Deerfield, being the northern settle- 
ment in the valley, Northfield not yet being resettled, suffered the loss 
of several inhabitants at the hands of skulking Indians: but Westfield 
suffered little. During Queen Anne's war the sack of Deerfield on the 
last day of Feibruary 1704, thrilled with horror the people of Westfield. 
The French and Indians, after much slaughter and house burning, 
started over the snow for Canada with one hundred and eleven pris- 
oners. Who could tell when the next town in the valley would be over- 
powered ? 

May 14, as soon as the condition of the ground was favorable to re- 
pairing the stockade, "it was voted unanimously that all persons shall 
work both with themselves and theire teames att repairing of the fort 
aboute Mr. Taylor's house forthwith & whosoever shall neglect to doe 
his share shall pay theire equal proportion to others according to what 
work is done att sd fort or worke at som^ other public workes of ye 
towne. ' ' 

At a town meeting June ;W, 1704, "it was voted unanimously by ye 
inhabitants that ye severall houses in the town that are forted, hereafter 
named shall stand and be defended and have there severall proportions 
of men posted to them (by ye committy appoynted) as may be accounted 
convenient under theire circumstances for theire defense viz. Mr. Tay- 
lor's Stephen Kellog's iC'onsider Maudsley's, John Sacket's John 
Noble's, Thomas Root's." 

At the same meeting "it was unanimously voted that ye severall 
housen and garrisons above mentioned shall be free (as well for the 
proper owners.) for all families and good (according to their propor- 
tions) who shall be appoynted to the severall garrisons by the com- 
mitty of malisha. ' ' 

Trum^bull says: "Constant rumors of an approaching enemy kept 



19 

the eoimtry in a continued state of alarm. At no time since Philip's 
war, twenty-eight years previous, had there been so many soldiers in the 
country. They were quartered in every town, and there were march- 
ings and countermarchings in every direction. Indian, spies and scouts 
of the approaching army, filled the forests. Parties of English, many 
of them citizens of the river towns, incessantly ranged the woods. 
None of the inhabitants dared venture far beyond the fortifications 
without an efficient guard and the occupations of the farming commun- 
ity were greatly interfered with, if not wholly suspended." In spite of 
the vigilance of the English, during this and several years following, 
Indians murders were not infrequent. In 1708. Haverhill was attacked, 
about iforty pei^ons killed and many taken captive. The various ex- 
peditions fitted out by the colonists against the French in Canada, not 
meeting with the neecled aid from England, failed of decisive results. 

During the ten years of the war one hundred and nineteen persons 
were killed in Hampshire county, twenty-five wounded, while the cap- 
tives numbered one hundred and twenty-five. 

The burden of taxes which the war imposed upon Massachusetts 
was enormous, and the means of paying them were scanty. An aver- 
age tax of more than a million a year was levied upon the people of 
Massachusetts. The treaty of Utrecht, in ]\Iarch, 1713, establishing 
peace was hailed with joy and thanksgiving. 



EARLY HABITS AND CUSTOMS. 

The first dwellings of the settlers were very rude — log houses or 
bank houses, facing the south, so that the banks on the north would pro- 
tect from cold and allow of underground rooms behind the sunny front 
rooms. These ground dwellings were sometimes called cellars. The 
banks that bound the lowlands on the north side c>f the Westfield river 
and the meadow terraces are well adapted to such dwellings. Here sev- 
eral seem to have 'been made, for this side was sometimes known as the 
north or cellar side. These cellars were not uncommon in other parts 
of the town. At a town meeting February 4, 1678, during the stress of 
Philip's war, "there is granted liberty to John Ponder to set a house or 
cellar within the gate by Lieut. Moseley for a while in case he is thrust 
from his own by reason of troublous times. ' ' 

As sawmilis were built and the increasing means of the settlers 
made it possible to provide better buildings, log houses gave place to 
more commodious dwellings. Those of simpler form were one-story 
houses, having rooms of good size, while the unfinished attic furnished a 
generous chamber for children, with abundant opportunity for the 
storage of corn and other grains, for the drying of nuts and for the 
safekeeping of manifold household goods. The huge stone chimney, 
built with clav instead of mortar, occupying a large portion of the cel- 
lar and claiming a sood share of the house as its right, that it might 



20 

present in every room a large iireplaee. and rising above the ridge of the 
honse with a top square and large as if defying the fiercest storms was 
one of the most distinctive featnres of the earlier colonial h(mses. The 
d'ront door opened into a small entry, on the right and on the left of 
whicli was a cloor opening into a front room, one the parlor occasionally 
lused the other the sitting room. Back of these rooms was the long 
kitchen, or living room, rnnning the whole length of the honse save as it 
was shortened by "mother's bedroom," a pantry and a closed stairway 
leading from the kitchen to the attic. The kitchen by doors communi- 
cated with all the other rooms of the honse and with the woodshed. A 
side door in many houses, opening on to the yard, gave an unhindered 
view of the fields, and added to the good cheer of the room in summer 
time. 

Larger houses, though of the same general plan, were two stories 
in height and had four front rooms. The chimne.v held so large an area 
that the space for the front hall and angular stairs was often quite lim- 
ited. The kitchen with its concomitants was usually provided for under 
a lean-to roof. The Moseley homestead, on Union street, which long ago 
passed its centennial, is a stately example of this sort of house, though 
it has a rear ell instead of the lean-to roof. 

Another plan, more aristocratic, was that of a two-story house hav- 
ing eight rooms nearly scpiare in the main house, with a generous hall on 
each fioor running from front to rear. The kitchen was in an ell pro- 
jecting from one-half of the rear of the main house. As provision was 
made for heating all the rooms by fireplaces, two chimneys were required 
in the main house and one in the ell. Such a house when standing on 
rising ground in an ample yard bordered with Lombardy poplars, origi- 
nally imported from over the sea, was indeed a stately reminder of the 
manor house of old England and of ancestral rank. The mouldings 
and carvings of the front entrances of these old honses, the chaste man- 
tels, the panelled wainscot and the corner cupboards of the front rooms 
are nuich admired. 

The finish of the front entrance of the large gambrel-roofed house 
on ]\Iain .street, near Noble street, is yet wtII preserved. This house was 
long known as Landlord Fowler's house and later as Harrison tavern. 

Burgoyne, with some of his companions, after his defeat at Sarato- 
ga, is said, under the convoy of American soldiers, to have slept here 
one night while on his way from Albany to Boston, hence the house is 
often called the "Burgoyne house." 

The kitchen in tlu^e colonial houses, with its long mantel spanning 
the huge fireplace and oven and with its high-backed settle, that, in 
zero weather, attempted to wall off the frigid cold in the rear of the 
room from the torricl heat of the fire, well nourished by wood from Ifour 
to eight feet in length, was the ceiiter of the home life of the household. 

The kitchen was indeed a place where these suggestions were heed- 
ed. Time was improved. In addition to the usual cooking and clean- 
ing there was soap-making, brewing and d.veing, the making of cloth for 
the family and the cutting and making of garments. At one end of 



21 

tlip long- room stood the spinning wheel and the loom. The whir of the 
one and the rattle and thud of the other made music in the ear of the 
thrifty housewife. Here the Hax which the men had raised, threshed, 
retted and broken, the women with distaff and spindle wrought into 
thread to be woven into linen — some of which woven more than a cen- 
tury ago is among the heirlooms of Westfield homesteads to day— or to 
be woven with woolen yarn into linse.v-woolsey. 

Over tlio mantel hung the gun proved in many a hunt and relied 
upon as a staunch weapon of defense. On the mantel the little hoard 
of books, well read because without competitors. There also was the 
box containing the flint and steel, the tinder and lint wherewith to start 
a fire, if the fire on the hearth should go out. When other sources of 
fire failed, a tramp to some neighbor's hoiLse must be taken with tin 
lantern to bring home the lighted candle. 

The kitchen was at times the workshop olf the men and boys as well 
as of the women. During the long evenings shingles were shaved, yokes 
and other farm implements were fashioned. 

Glancing at the table and cupboard, we should notice that pewter 
and wooden ware were in common use. iCVockery was sparingly used by 
settlers in the seventeenth century. The table was supplied with, ar- 
ticles of food from the farm and house garden. The smoke-house and 
the meat barrels in the cellar furnished a continual supply of meat, al- 
ternated with fowl, game, fish and the snow-preserved fresh meats of 
winter. Boiled dinner, with Indian pudding, was a frequent midday 
meal and was served cold at supper to workingmen. Wheat bread seems 
t(» have been more common in the seventeenth than in the eighteenth 
centurv. Rye and corn came to be the common ingredients of bread. 
Brown bread, composed of two parts Indian meal and one part rye, was 
largely used. Prof. Shaler of Harvard has well set forth the value of 
Indian corn to the settlers. He says : 

"The success of the first settlements in America was also greatly 
aided by the fact that the continent afforded them a new and cheaper 
source of bread in the maize or Indian corn, which was everywhere used 
by the aborigines of America. It is difficult to convey an adequate im- 
pression of the importance of this grain in the early historv o'f America. 
In the first place, it .vields not less than twice the amount of food per 
acre of tilled land, with much less labor (?) than is required for an 
acre of small grains ; is far less dependent on the changes of the seasons; 
tile yield is much more uniform than that of the old European grains; 
the harvest need not 'be made at such a particular season: the crop may 
with little loss be allowed to remain ungathered for weeks after the 
grain is ripe ; the stalks of the grain need not be touched in the harvest- 
ing, the ears alone being gathered; these stalks are of greater value for 
forage than is the straw of wheat and other si.milar grains. Probably 
the greatest advantage of all that this beneficent plant afforded to the 
early settlers was the way in which it could be planted without plough- 
ing, amid the standing forest trees which had been only deadened bv 
having their bark stripped away by the axe. . . . Its strong roots 



22 

readily penetrated deep into the soil, and the strons: tops fought their 
way to the light with a vigor which few phints possess. The grain was 
ready for domestic use within three months from the time of planting, 
and in four months it was ready for the harvest." 

Tea and coffee were long considered rare luxuries in most families. 
Fortunately, they have taken the place of cider so long considered need- 
ful. Orchards are now reared for better purposes than for the filling 
of eider barrels for home consumption. In early times, before the set- 
tlers had planted orchards or built cider mills, home-brewed beer was a 
eonunon drink. For many decades, in the eighteenth and nineteenth 
centuries, a supply of cider was considered as important as other ar- 
ticles of diet. 'Charles Francis Adams telLs us that "to the end of his 
life, a large tankard of hard cider was John Adams' morning draught 
before breakfast; and in sending directions from Philadelphia to Quincy 
to her agent in 1799, Mrs. Adams takes care to mention that the 'Presi- 
dent hopes you will not omit to have eight or nine barrels of good late 
made cider put up in the cellar for his own particular use.' " 

Trumbull, speaking of the meals of these early times, says: "For 
breakfast, meat was seldom provided, but; bread and milk or bread and 
cider, hasty pudding with milk or molasses, and sometimes porridge or 
broth, made of peas or beans flavored by being cooked with salt pork or 
bee'f, was the usual fare. 

"Dinner was deemed the most important, and some kind of meat or 
fish, with vegetables, was always served. Potatoes were unknown ; but 
turnips, cabbages, beans and a few other vegetables were used to a con- 
siderable extent. Potatoes were introduced into the Connecticut valley 
about 1720, and were not used as a common article of diet until several 
years later. 

One of the oldest colonial houses, built according to the plans we 
have noticed, is the Day house, as it is called, on the high land north of 
the Boston and Albany railroad and west of the trap rock ridge : an- 
other is the brick house in Pochassic. for several years the home of Bar- 
num Perry and his family; and another is the ^loseley house on the 
north side of Main street, just east of the junction of ^Meadow and ]Main 
streets. Other houses deserve mention, but these must suffice. 

The genealogy connected with each of these houses is interesting. 
We will speak of those only who have occupied the ]Moseley house, using 
an account given by one of the family. In 1677 John ^NFandsley (or 
Moseley) removed from "Wtindsor with his wife. ]\[arv Newbury, to 
Westfield. and purchased the house and store of Mr. Whitney which 
thenceforth has been known as their home or the home of their descen- 
dants. Mr. Moseley had already proved his valor in battles with the 
followers of King Philip. Hence, he was warmly welcomed to the 
stockaded hamlet and chosen lieutenant of the little company of defend- 
ers. He was also recorded as one of the seven original members or 
"foundation men," of the church first organized under Rev. Edward 
Taylor, in 1677. The" sons of "Lieut. John" "struck out" in new paths 
for themselves. ^Consider has manv descendants in Westfield and else- 



23 

where, one of them, ^Mrs. Bingham (Sydil ^loseley) was among the 
earliest missionaries to the Sandwich Islands. 'H^natermaster John," 
as he was called was another son. He was the father of Col. John 
^loseley, one of the committee of safety in the war for independence. 
Owing to his public services, his name often appears in the town and in 
the state records. While the wddow of Joseph (another son) was living 
in the house, we find the record w^as made upon the towai hook that the 
selectmen had agreed with one John NegTo to call the people to meeting 
by 'beating the first drum, "against the wddow^ ]\Ioseley's house in good 
weather." This drum beating by John or some one else for about one 
hundred and fifty years served instead of bell-ringing to promote punc- 
tual attendance at church. 

When the first meeting-house, near the bridge, over Little river, be- 
came inadequate to the needs of the growing town, in 1719_ measures 
were taken to build another. After much discussion and disagreement 
respecting the site for the new^ building, the town by vote made Samuel 
Partridge final arbiter. His decision w^as that "the place for erecting 
and setting up the new ^Meeting House, to be knowl on €apt. Maudsley 's 
lot on the north side of ye w'ay behind his housing." This meeting- 
house stood not far from the present southwest corner of the Moseley 
place on Meadow and IMain .streets. 

In 1749, we find David ]\Ioseley, Esquire, as he is named in his com- 
mission from George 2nd appointing him magistrate of Hampshire 
county, occupying the ]\Ioseley house. Like many other officers of law 
and landholders, during the earlier troubles with the mother country, he 
was known as a tory. Had he lived to feel the in,justice of later and 
more oppressive measures of the home government he would doubtless 
have helped to swell the unanimous votes passed during the revolution- 
ary struggle, tending to secure independence. He was the first public 
surveyor of the town. His royal commission is still preserved bv his 
descendants, and also his compass, used in running town and division. 
lines. His book shows the "Two Hundred Acres lying on the Syms- 
bury Eoad," laid out by him for Jacob Wendell. Esciuire, of Boston. 
These acres were afterwards given for the first bell hung in the ' ' coney ' ' 
on the town meeting house near the Moseley house. His son, named 
David, was a staunch patriot, a selectman for several years, serving in 
other offices also and chosen, in 1775, one of "the Committee of iCbrre- 
spondence and Safety to carry out the Plans of the Provincial Congress 
appointed by the tow-n." While serving in the war for independence 
he was commissioned colonel of the Third regiment militia in Hampshire 
county. In his diary we find : 

""21:th Day of September 1777. I went to Saratoga in the alarm of 
the militia ; General Burgoyne was_Delivered into our hands a prisoner 
of War the 17th day of October 17/7. I returned home the 19th day of 
October from the camps." 

This Captain, afterwards iC'olonel, Moseley, had charge o'f at least 
one tory when a John Ingersoll was examined by the connnittee and 
placed under guard. 



24 

Time liad made sad inroads on doors and windows "since this old 
house was new," and about fifty years ago one of the descendants of 
"Lieut. IMoseh^y from Windsor" made repairs and changes. The huge 
central chimney, witli its wide fireplaces, was taken out and a hall made 
through the center of the house. The panelled walls were stripped of 
much of their handiwork and a modern finish substituted. The comer 
eup'boafds were removed, windows changed and the decaying doors on 
the front and east side, with their artistic carvings, curved mouldings 
and enormous 'brass knockers, gave place to modern contrivances. Four- 
teen brides, eaeh bearing the name of Moseley, have been married in the 
'"best room" on the west side of the house, during the more than two 
hundred years in which the house has passed in the same family from 
generation to generation. Those born and reared in the Moseley house, 
joining hands and hearts with others, have built up from time to time 
new homes, here and elsewhere, far and wide, under the colonial names. 
Noble, Ingersoll, Root, Sackett, Fowler, Dewey, Taylor and others as 
well as the name of Moseley. 

Work was the motto of the settlers. Their circumstances compelled 
persistent industry. Yet they were not as gloomy a people as they are 
often represented. They made ' ' the wilderness and the solitary place ' ' 
glad with their good cheer, born of full health. The variety of their 
work made reereation less a necessity for them than for those of the 
present time, when division of labor has made so many well nigh parts 
of the mechanism of a faetory. Nor did they lack amusement and 
recreation. There were training-clays, when work was suspended, that 
the militia might assemble on the "common" and receive instruction 
and drill. The day of annual muster was another holiday. Old elec- 
tion day was maintained as a holiday long after the election of state 
officers was transferred from May to November. "Raising day" was 
anticipated by every boy, as he saw the heavy frame building nearing 
completion, for he knew that the able-bodied men and boys of the neigh- 
borhood would asseml)le in gladsome mood at the ' ' raising, ' ' and feats 
of strength, skill and courage might be expected. It was the eustom 
to levy the tax for the repair of the roads as a separate tax to be "work- 
ed out" under district surveyors. After planting time the surveyors 
in the several districts summoned men with their teams to put the roads 
in good condition. Boys, allowed a wage according to their years, 
niinghxl with men. Working on the roads was a social affair. Local 
liistor\-, personal reminiscence and mirthful story gave zest to the busy 
liours. The noon hour, when under some wide, arching tree, eaeh par- 
took of the dinner he had brought, was a time for much discussion of the 
rpiestions c^f the day. These were very democratic occasions, for the 
minister and the doctor (though doctors were rare) worked out their tax 
with others. Then there were husking parties, dancing, hunting parties, 
games of ball, in which all might play, being chosen as at evening spell- 
ing matches on one side or the other; spinning bees for the girls, and 
ganies at neighborhood parties, in which all might engage, that made the 
colonial houses, illuminated with generous hearth fires, resound with 



merry-making. 

That the large firephu-es were great eon.sumers of fuel is evident 
from the animal supply of wood necessary for a household. The annual 
supply of a minister's family is fairly known from church and town 
records. Mr. Chauncy of Hatfield used from fifty to sixty cords. 
Mr. Edwards, after 1740. consumed, in Northampton, upwards 
of seventy loads each year. It has been estimated, that one hundred 
families of Iladley, as late as 1765, when the size of fireplaces was less 
than a century earlier, consumed not less than three thousand cords 
annually. Westfield burned as much wood per family as other towns 
in the country. Sylvester Judd, the historian of Hadley wrote: "The 
minister's wood was got on days appointed, and the minister furnished 
the flip and other drink but not the food. ' ' These were high days for 
young men, and for some not young, in Hadley and in other towns. 

it would seem that among other amusements there must have been 
sleigh rides in winter. Judd tells ils that "the first settlers of New 
England knew nothing about sleds and sleighs, nor did they use them 
for some years. In Hampshire, wood was sometimes sledded lief ore 
1670, but in general it was carted long after that date. For many years 
logs were conveyed to saw pits and sawmills on wheels, and almost every- 
thhig was carted." He adds: "There were no sleigh-rides in these 
towns till after 1730 or 1740." Later, as those now living can testify, 
this form o'f winter amusement was conunon. Weddings were festive 
occasions and not infrequently both merry and boisterous. 

During King Philip's war many believed that the sufferings the set- 
tlers endur°ed were the result of their wickedness. Rev. Solomon Stod- 
dard of Northampton, writing to Increase Mather, says : "I desire that 
you would speak to the Governor that there may be some thorough care 
for a reformation." and among the "many sins grown in fashion" he 
mentions "intolerable pride in clothes and hair." At the November 
session of the leoislature, in 1675, many sins were noted, with penalties 
provided for those who vielded to them. Under previous sumptuary 
laws three AVestfield women were "presented," in 1673, for wearing silk 
contrarv to law. In 1676 scores of persons in the Connecticut valley 
were fined some for wearing silk in a "flaunting manner.'' and others 
for indulo-ino" in long hair. Five of these were from Westfield and in- 
cluded Elizal^eth Lvman and I\Iartha Wright, who was subsequently 
scalped bv the Indians in July and lived until October, minus a scalp. 
But then" as now men admired beautiful dress and the women were not 
averse so that the sumptuaiT laws soon became obsolete. 

We quote a paragraph from the history of Pittsfield. as it gives a 
o-limpse of some of the sons and daughters of Westfield as inhabitants of 
that town. "Still another class of festivities, less geiier ally remem- 
bered were the evening suppers, at which the choicest of substantial 
comitrv luxuries-from the goose and turkey, down to the pumpkin-pie 
and nut eake, not forgetting apples, chestnuts and cider-were served 
m turn at the houses of circles of friends, who formed a kmd of informal 
club- the most flourishing of which was the Woronokers. composed of 



26 

immiprants from "Westfield. and their doseendaiits — a right hearty and 
jovial set of men, noted for stalwart frames, vigorous and manly intel- 
lect, inteprity of character, and devotion to the democratic party." 

Holland says that a large portion of the inhabitants of Pittsfield at 
the time of its incorporation. 1761, were from Westtield. 

Meeting Houses. — AVe are accustomed to .speak of church buildings 
as churches. The early settlers designated their houses for Sabbath 
gathering's, meeting-houses, for they were used, whenever they met to- 
gether, to transact any business requiring the meeting together of the 
people. Some room in the fort, or "forted house," was probably used 
for Sabbath meeting's by the people of Westfield previous to 1672. In 
December of that year we find the town voted "that the town will go on 
with building a meeting-hou.se with all convenient speed as may be. 
The dimensions are as follows: — about thirt.v-six feet square. (Height 
of ceiling) is fourteen feet and for form like the Hatfield meeting 
house." According to tradition, the settlement at Little river on the 
Windsor road, strove with each other and with the settlement between 
the river.s. respecting the location of the meeting house. Each wished 
the house to be located in its own precincts. After it was decided to 
build it on the "fort side." not far from the confluence of the rivers, 
there still was diversity of opinion respecting the place in which it 
should stand. The record .sa.vs that "after solemn looking to God, the 
lotts were drawn. The lot came forth on the pla<:*e before Goodman 
Phelps' or Goodman Gunn's, on the point." 

This first meeting house was probably made of logs and stood on 
the north side of ]\lain street on the terraee near the confluence of the 
rivers and a little northwest of the bridge over Little river. A central 
aisle led from the entrance to the pulpit. On eaeh side of this aisle, and 
at right angles to it. were the long ibenches that filled the body of the 
church. On the sides of the church were benches perhaps at right 
angles to those filling the body of the house. These were the flank seats. 

As the little community increased in numbers more seats were 
needed. By vote of the town, ]Ma.v 10, 1708, "Gallare.vs" were built 
on each side of the meeting house. The end gallery opposite the pulpit 
may have been 'built when the church was built. 

The body seats decreased in dignity from front to rear. The dig- 
nity of other seats was determined by vote of the town acting upon a 
report of a committee previously appointed. Change in seats of the 
church required a new dignifying of seats. 

It appears that for more than one hundred and fift.v years the peo- 
ple of Westfield attended church without any means of warming the 
church building. An ample force of "tithing men" was maintained all 
the while, who, according to the vote of the town, were to "have full 
power to take especial care that all disorders in the meeting house, es- 
pecially upon the Sabbath da.v. are stilled, and to give such correction 
that they shall think fit, unto the boys, to keep them in order." It is 
not strange that the boys in the gallery were restive under the long ser- 
mons, and were sometimes noisy as they attempted to warm their feet by 



21 

striking their boots together. When it was first proposed in town meet 
ing that the Congregational society should raise money for stoves the 
vote of the moderator decided the tie vote in the affirmative ; bnt a re- 
consideration followed and reference to a committee to report. Decem- 
ber, 1827. in the third meeting-house, to be described herekfter, the in- 
novation, so long dreaded by many, came. The town voted that the 
"■selectmen provide at the expense of the Congregational society of this 
town two stoves together with pipes, not to exceed in am't 80 dollars." 

William G. Bates, in his "Pictures of Westfield," says : "We can- 
not conclude, without referring to an incident, in those times, strongly 
illustrating the power of the imagination. 'The meeting-house' was 
then unwarmed. There was no fireplace, or stove in it, and no provi- 
sion for heat, except a hot brick, or soap-stone or a foot-stove. There 
were, besides, no sidewalks, as we have now ; and the article of overshoes 
was confined to a few persons. The congregation used to wade 'to meet- 
ing,' sit with wet feet during a long sermon, and then hurry home to 
those restoring influences, which so effectually guarded against colds. 
The project was agitated, of warming 'the meeting-house.' It met with 
a furious opposition. Dr. Atwater was one of the innovators ; yet even 
his opinions could not dispel the dread of stove-heat. At last (many 
years after the death of Mr. Atwater), two stoves were put in. Some 
.said, 'Oh how comfortable !' Said others, 'It makes me faint !' On the 
second Sunday, owing to a neglect to provide fuel, no fires were built. 
But the stoves were there ! One lady, of Court street, who was annoyed 
on the first Sunday, was still more annoyed on the second. She at first 
resorted to the reviving fan. She brandished it furiously, but its 
breezes could not cool that odious and distressing stoveheat. She untied 
ber bonnet-strings, threw off her shawl, and opened her cloak; but the 
stove-heat increased upon her. Unable longer to sustain the fury of 
the Nebuchadnezzarean furnace, she rushed down the broad aisle, and 
sought relief from the internal heat in an atmosphere of 20 degrees be- 
low zero. It may readily be imagined, that good old Parson Knapp 
was seized with a' fit of coughing about that time, and that the congrega- 
tion wondered, how two cold stoves could produce such an inflammation 
in onlv one person." 

The relation of the ministers of early New England to their people 
is vividly portrayed by Mc:\Iaster. "High as the doctors stood in the 
good graces of their fellow-men, the ministers formed a yet more re- 
spected class of New England society. In no other section of the coun- 
try had religion so firm a hold on the affections of the people. No- 
where else were men so truly devout, and the minister held in such high 
esteem. It had, indeed, from the days of the founders of the colony 
been the fashion among New Englanders to look to the pastor with pro- 
found reverence, not unmingled with awe. He was not to them as 
other men were. * He was the just man made perfect ; the oracle of Di- 
vine will • the sure guide to truth. The heedless one who absented him- 
self from the preaching on a Sabbath was hunted up by the tithmg 
man was admonished severely, and if he still persisted in his evil ways. 



28 

was fined, exposed in the stocks, or imprisoned in the cage. 

Town ^linisters. — The earlier minister in Westfield were ministers 
of the town, selected by authority of the town and paid by town appro- 
priations. ]\Iarcli 19, 1666, the town appropriated a lot of twelve acres 
for the minister. According to the account of Rev. Edward Taylor 
written a few yeai-s later: 

"Westfield, then Warronnokee, coming to be an English plantation, 
had at first ]\[r. John Holyoake, son of that (Jodly Captain Elizur Hol- 
yoake of Springfield, to dispense ye word of life amongst them Ano Dmi 
1667, about half a year; but in ye beginning of winter following, he, as 
finding ye ministry of the word too heavie for him, desisted ; from 
which time till ye beginning of winter 1668 they had no minister." 

Springfield was still recognized as the parent colony. Co-operat- 
ing with a committee at Springfield, it was voted, in 1668, "that Clapt. 
Cook shall go into the Bay to procure a minister." The record of this 
quest is wanting, but he probably obtained Rev. Moses Fisk, son of a 
minister of the church of Chelmsford, for he served as minister three 
years. They then tried to obtain a Mr. Adams from Dedham, but 
failed, finding him "not as yet movable from ye collidge. " 

]Mr. Edward Taylor was the next minister sought and obtained. 
He was the minister selected by the town soon after its organization. 
The town, including every man, woman and child within its borders, 
was his parish. For more than half a century, during its early forma- 
tive period, he was the religious, the educational, and. in large degree, 
the civil leader of the town. An outline of his life cannot fail to pre- 
sent facts of importance relating to the early history of the town. A 
letter by one of his descendants, Henry W. Taylor. Esq.. of Canandai- 
gua, to William G. Bates and dated October 1. 1869, gives some facts 
pertaining to the early life of Rev. Edward Taylor. From this we 
quote : 

"He was born in England, educated for the ministry, studied seven 
years in one of their universities; but the e.jection of 2,000 dissenting 
clergymen in 1662, and the persecutions M'hich that class of iQhristians 
suffered, induced him to a voluntary exile. It seems he was then an 
ardent anti-monarchist, and his early writings are said to breathe, in no 
doubtful terms, his strong aversion to the rulings of the existing 
dynasty. He was. through his whole life, a most voluminous writer, 
keeping a diary of the running events of his life, and recording things 
of passing interest. He left a large n\imber of written folio volumes, 
and he was in the habit of transcribing, with his own hand, the books 
which were loaned to him by his friend. Judge Sewall of Boston. Mr. 
Taylor also studied medicine ; and during his life was accustomed to 
minister as well to the diseases of the body, as of the soul. He also gave 
attention to the study of natural history, and some of his compositions 
were published in the scientific literature of the day." 

The Westfield settlement was small when ^Ir. Taylor came into it ; 
the cloud of King Philijvs war was gathering a'l)out to burst in devas- 
tation and slaughter upon the scattered towns : Westfield seemed es- 



29 

peeially exposed to attack, being the westernmost settlement. It seemed 
to be no time to organize churches and provide for the needs of a fixed 
population. However hopeful the outlook, when Mr. Taylor found his 
way with INIr. Dewey on their horses through the forest from Cambridge 
to AVestfield, times soon changed for the worse, and Avhether this out- 
post o'f western advance could be maintained, was soon a very grave 
question. 

During Philip's war he and his bride shared the toils, the priva- 
tions, the anxieties and the heartrending sorrow of the colonists. Every 
night, for many months, he with his wife and others repaired to the 
fort, one of the forted houses of which mention is often made in the 
town records, and every night the watch was set to guard the encircling 
palisades and give notice if the enemy approached. In the midst of 
the war, as we have seen, the central authority of the colonies urged the 
settlers to abandon the town and remove to Springfield. The stout re- 
ply of the little settlement we have given. The framer of this reply 
was the young minister, whose heart was with the people and whose 
patriotic determination fitted him for leadership in "times that tried 
men's souls." 

But the terrible years of Philip's war wore away. Wiestfield had 
been saved from the fire and slaughter that drove the settlers of Deer- 
field and of Northfield from their homes, though several of the people of 
Westfield had fallen victims "to ye rage of ye enemy." A brighter fu- 
ture dawned. Steps were taken to establish a church and to install Mr. 
Taylor. 

The letters inviting a council bore the date o'f July. 1679. August 27 
was the day for the assembling of the council. The day is described as 
the last fourth day of the sixth month. This is in accord with the ec- 
clesiastical year, old style, which began the year with the first of :\Iarch. 
The council, we are told, "consisted of Rev. Solomon Stoddard of 
Northampton, Mr. Strong, ruling elder, and Capt. Aaron Cook and 
Lieut. Clark, messengers ; Rev. John Russell of Hadley, and Lieut. Smith 
and INIr. Younglove. messengers; Rev. Pelatiah Glover of Springfield, 
teaching elder and I. Holyoke, Dea. Burt and Mr. Parsons, messen- 
gers; and one messenger from Meriden, Conn., the pastor 'being detain- 
ed by sickness ; there were present also, as guests, the Rev. Samuel 
Hooker of Farmington, Conn., and the 'Worshipful Maj. John Pyn- 
chon' of Springfield. The council assisted in organizing the church, 
consistino- of the following members :— Edward Taylor, John Maudsley 
(^^loselevl Samuel Loomis, Isaac Phelps, from the church in Wnidsor; 
Josiah bewev and John Ingersoll from Northampton, and John Root 
from Farmino-ton, Conn. The council then proceeded in accordance 
with the expressed wish of the church to ordain Mr. Taylor as pastor." 
Mr Taylor by studv of medicine, had prepared himself to care for 
the bodies as well as the "souls of his charge. He was much beloved, and 
respected bv the people of the towai. However severe the stress of war, 
however straitened their circumstances, the town records show their 
readiness to vote his full salary. 



30 

Mr. Taylor, like other country minister, was a farmer. His peo- 
ple could not help him to write sermons, they could help him in hi.s field 
work. It seems to have been the custom for his parishioners to render 
him voluntary aid in haying and harvest time. There is a vote on rec- 
ord providing such aid and also requiring the women of the town to as- 
sist Mrs. Taylor in spinning. When Mr. Taylor was advanced in life, 
the town increased his salary one-third. With filial tenderness they 
provided by abundant gifts for his table on Thanksgiving and other 
festive occasions. 

One of his daughters married Isaac Stiles, whose son became pres- 
ident of Yale college. President Stiles made these notes of Mr. Taylor : 
' ' He was an excellent classical scholar, ibeing master of three languages, 
a great historian, and every way a learned man. He had a steady cor- 
respondence with Judge Sewall of Boston, who duly communicated to 
him all the transactions in the assembly, and occurrences in the nation." 
' ' He was a vigorous advocate of Oliver Cromwell, and of civil and re- 
ligious liberty. He was an incessant student. " "A man of small sta- 
ture, but firm ; of quick passions, yet serious and grave. Exemplary in 
piety, and for a sacred observance of the Lord's day." 

For many years he was the only physician in Westfield and for 
many miles around. Some of his medical, as well as his theological 
books, he transcribed. Natural history was hardly recognized as a 
school study, yet he accumulated no little knowledge of plants, minerals 
and animals. He continued to minister to his people fifty-seven and 
one-half years, preaching regularly till within a few years of his death 
in 1729, at the age of eighty-seven. 

Then followed in the line of succession: 

Rev. Nehemiah Bull 1726—1740 

Rev. John Ballantine 1740—1776 

Rev. Noah Atwater 1781—1802 

Rev. Isaac Knapp 1803—1847 

Rev. Emerson Davis 1836 — 1866 

Rev. Elias H. Richardson 1867—1872 

Rev. A. Judson Titsworth 1873—1878 

Rev. John H. Lockwood 1879—1906 

Rev. Henry M. Dyckman 1907—1918 

Rev. Henr}' A. Kernen 1919 — 

WESTFIELD REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY. 

The parliament of Great Britain, ]\Iarch 7, 1774, ordered the port 
of Boston closed to commerce and the custom-house, courts of justice 
and other public offices to be removed to Salem. Salem refused to 
take them from Boston. The people of Marblehead offered the mer- 
chants of Bosto)! the free use of their wharves. Other oppressive acts 
of parliament followed, affecting not only Boston, but Massachusetts, 
and General Gage, with his soldiers, was on the ground to enforce the 



31 

acts. On the first of June the port bill took full effect. The ruin of 
trade resulted in the ruin of fortunes and abject poverty. "All 
classes," says Lossing-. "felt the scourge of the oppressor, but bore it 
with remarkable fortitude. They were conscious df being right, and 
everywhere tokens of the liveliest sympathy were manifested. Flour, 
rice, cereal grains, fuel and money were sent to the suffering people 
from the different colonies ; and the city of London, in its corporate ca- 
pacity, subscribed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the poor 
of Boston." 

May, 25. 1774. a town meeting was called "to see what answer the 
town will make to a letter received from the Town Clerk of Boston set- 
ting forth the sore calamities the town labors under." Eldad Taylor, 
Elisha Parks, John Phelps, Dr. Samuel Mather and John IngersoU were 
chosen a committee to inquire into the state of Boston and report at a 
subsequent meeting. July 19 they made the following report : 

"Whereas the State House of Representatives of this Province 
on the 17th of June last past taking into consideration the many dis- 
tresses and difficulties into which the American colonies and this Pro- 
vince in particular, are and must be reduced by the operation of certain 
late acts of Parliament, did resolve to determine that it is highly ex- 
pedient that a committee should be appointed by the several British 
Colonies on this continent to consult together on the present state of the 
colonies and to deliberate and determine upon Proper Measures to be 
by them recommended to all colonies, for the recovery and establish- 
ment of the just rights and liberties, and the restoring of that Union 
and Harmony between Great Britain and the Colonies ardently desired 
by all good men; and did. on the same day, appoint a comtee of five 
Gentlemen to meet said Committee on the first day of September next 
at the city of Philadelphia for the purpose before said : — 

"AVted that we the inhabitants aforesaid in town meeting as- 
sembled, do cordially approve of the above measure taken by the .said 
House, and would fervently pray that the Great Father of the Uni- 
verse out of his abundant goodness, would bless their meeting, and af- 
ford them that wisdom that is profitable to direct upon measures most 
salutary to Extricate ils from ye difficulties and distresses under which 
we are "laboring, and that we are cheerfully ready to adopt and strictly 
adhere to any practicable measures said Congress may recommend rela- 
tive to said relief not inconsistent with our duty to God and allegiance 
to our Rightful Sovereign George the third: and in the meantime we 
shall encourage our own Manufactures, and discountenance unnecessary 
use of India Teas and British goods, and that we shall not be wanting 
of charity to the town of Boston and Charlestown in their Distressing 

Dav : but think thev ought to be relieved and sustained until the sense 

of the colonies may be had touching their conduct and shall send them 
that relief that their iQircumstances and our abilities upon due consid- 
eration shall dictate and direct." 

Some who have given us an account of the men who set out from 
Westfield the day after the battle at Lexington say that there were sev- 



32 

fiity-six men from Westfield, others that there were fifty-three. There 
were probably fifty-three in the company that marched from Westfield 
on the 20th of April, the day after the fight ■at Lexington. Others were 
delayed a little in Westfield, it seems, and joined the advance division 
near Boston. The following names are accredited to the first division : 
Zechariah Bush, Amos Bush, ]\Ioses Bush, Lewis 'Charles, James Cul- 
verson. Aaron Chapman, ]\Ioses Dewey, Benjamin Dewey, James Der- 
rick, Eliab Dewey, Jonathan Dewey, Stephen Dewey, Moses Grunn, Eli 
(rranger, Daniel Gunn, Warham Gnnn. Joseph Kellogg, David King, 
Capt. Noah Loomis, Agnatins Linus, Bartholomew Noble, Asa Noble, 
Roger Noble, James Minocks, Azariah ^loseley, Asahel Owen, David 
Piercy, Jared Plumb, Justus Pomeroy, William Robinson, David Ross, 
IMartin Root, Jonathan Snell. John Smith, Joshua Senn, Phineas Sex- 
ton, Abner Sackett, Israel Sackett, Gideon Shepard, John Shepard, 
David Taylor, Nathaniel Tremain. Jedediah Taylor, Ruggles Winchell, 
William Welch, Luther AVhite, Reuben Wharfield, Solomon Williams, 
Abner Ward. 

A partial list of others than those served as soldiers during some 
part of the war, we also note : William Ashley, Simeon Burke, Amos 
Barlow, Lieut. Bagg, Lieut. Buell, Aaron Bush, Elijah Bliss, Titus 
Bigelow. James Carter, John Carter, Buckley Caldwell, Noah Cooley, 
Aaron Dewey, Deacon Israel Dewey, John Dewey, Noah Dewey, Jr., 
Asaph Dewey, David Dewey, Sergt. Moses Dewey. Ely Danielson. Sergt. 
Benjamin Dewey, Timothy Dewey, A. Eager, Isaac Ensign, Samuel 
Fowler, Frederic Fowler, JEbenezer Fowier, Blackleach Fowler, Luther 
Fowler, John Fowler, Daniel Fowler, John Fro.st. Capt. John Ferguson, 
Stephen Fowler, Bildad Fowler, Jr., David Fowler, Jr., Alexander 
Grant, Capt. Gray, Elijah Haxman, Enoch ?Iolcomb, Jr., jMoses Han- 
chet, Jacob Halliday, Oliver Ingersoll, John Ingersoll, Capt. John Kel- 
logg, Aaron King, Jr., Peter Kitts, Silas King, Gideon J. Linsey, Seth 
Linsey, Jonathan Lyon, (Capt. David IMoseley, Samuel Mather, Zadoc, 
Edward and Samuel Martindale, Bilda Noble, Lieut. Stephen Noble, 
Paul Noble, Sergeant Gad Noble, Shadrack Noble, Aaron Phelps, Justin 
Pomeroy, David Province, AA^illiam Palmer, Silas, Samuel and Jonathan 
Root, Joseph Root, Jr., Datis E. Root, Jr., Abner Stevenson, Simeon 
Stiles, William Sackett, Thomas Sparks, John Stiles. Phineas Southwell, 
Jonathan Sibley, Elijah Williams, Sergt. ]\Iartin AVay, James Wood- 
bury, John Wilson, Nathan Waldron. During the first three years of 
the war it is estimated that more than a hundred men entered the army 
from Westfield. 

The town meeting, in April, a few days after the battle of Lexing- 
ton, gave evidence of progress towards independence. The second ar- 
ticle of the warrant was "to consult what measure may be best to be 
done to secure our privileges and whether it is advisable to take up 
government." Money was also voted to purchase "powder and warlike 
stores." As the town records are imperfect, the record of the earlier 
committee of "Correspondence and Inspection" is wanting; but the 
names of those chosen b^' the town in December, 1775, are as follows: 



33 

Col. John :\[oseley. Col. Elisha Parks, Daniel Fowler, Dr. Samuel 
Mather, iCapt. David ]Moseley, Lieut. John Kellogg, Lieut. Daniel 
Sacket, Ensign Zaehariah Bush, Bohan King, Oliver IngersoU, David 
AVeller, Jr., Ensign Daniel Bragg, Lieut. Stephen Noble. 

At a subsequent election of a "Committee of Correspondence, In- 
spection and Safety," August, 1776, the new men elected were Martin 
Root, Robert Hazard, William H. Church, William Hiscock and Oliver 
Weller. The following year the committee included Benjamin Saxton 
and'Capt. John Gray. 

During the winter of 1777-78, ever memorable for the patriotic for- 
titude of the continental army suffering for clothing aiid other sup- 
plies at Valley Forge, Col. Shepard writes to his townsmen. At a 
meeting held March 9, 1778, it was voted to send Warham Parle? to Bos- 
ton, "as an agent for the town in consequence of sundry letters from 
(Jol. Shepard & others in the continental army, — on the cost of the town. 
Voted also to choose a committee to remonstrate to the general court of 
the Nakedness of the Army, and of the Necessity of its being supplied 
with clothing." It seems the state authorities acted promptly, consid- 
ering the slow means of communication, for in April the town held a 
meeting and appointed a eommittee to provide the fifty-three shirts and 
fifty-three pairs of shoes and stockings, demanded for the army. The 
committee, according to their judgment, made requisitions upon each 
householder. There was not time to make the articles required. The 
army was suffering. The articles, we may believe, were collected and 
forwarded promptly. There were no stores of ready-made clothing as 
now. Each family, in the rural districts especially, made its own 
clothing. 

June 29. 1779, it was "voted to raise the sum of Twelve Hundred 
Pounds for the encouragement of the soldiers to be raised to join the 
continental army forthwith, for the space of nine months." In August, 
Col. John Moseiey was chosen a member of the convention to meet at 
Cambridge, September 1, to form a new (state) constitution. A com- 
mittee of nine men were chosen to instruct the delegate. 

At the same meeting August, 1779, appeared a hint of dissatisfac- 
tion with the existing government, which later ripened into a threaten- 
ed revolution under the name of Shays' rebellion. Then, and in the 
years following, the people of Westfield acted with due consideration, 
avoiding those ill-concerted gatherings and movements that disgraced 
many other sectioiLs of the state. Gen. Shepard of Westfield rendered 
most effective service in restoring order to the state. It was voted at 
this time "that the petition of Benjamin Winchell and others for the 
purpose of stopping the Courts of Justice in the County be not enter- 
tained. ' ' 

At the October meeting, 1779, a bounty of thirty pounds was voted 
for each soldier "now to be raised for the continental service & destined 
to Claversack and also their mileage at two shillings per mile. ' ' When 
the state constitution was formed, and submitted to the people of the 

3 



34 

state, the town appointed a committee of eleven "to make objections." 
and report. At the adjourned meetinsj^ the town voted to accept the 
whole constitution, excepting those articles objected to by the commit- 
tee. Among the improvements suggested hy the committee were the 
following : 

"The 'Senate should consist of 28 only.'' 

"The Governor should declare himself to be of the Christian and 
Protestant Religion. ' ' 

"Justices of the Peace should be nominated by the town, and hold 
office for 3 years. ' ' 

"No minister of the gospel should be allowed a seat in tlie House 
of Representatives." 

As the war continued, the need o'f men at home was more severely 
felt and it was more and more difficult for Westfield to meet the requisi- 
tions for money and men. In 1780, June 16, the town voted "to give the 
nineteen soldiers to be raised for the continental army for the term of 
six months three pounds per month in hard money, or Continental 
mone^^ equivalent, as wages, and one thousand dollars in continental 
money as bounty for each man and the bounty money to be paid before 
the marching of the men." July 5, five additional six months men 
were raised, to whom it was agreed to pay a like heavy bounty. As re^ 
quested by the general court, the town, during the year, agreed to pur- 
chase twelve horses for the army. The town also voted to raise $44,000 
to purchase beef, in accord with the order of the general court. Before 
the year closed they voted to raise eighteen more men. It w^as voted to 
raise 30,000 pounds to defray the expenses of the year. 

January 2, 1781, it was voted to raise 130 pounds in hard mone.v 
to buy beef ordered for the army by the general court. In September 
of this .year the town resolved to give each one of the inilitia who should 
serve in Connecticut, under the command of Governor Trumbull. 3 
pounds per month, in hard money. 

There was a public celebration in Wesitfield of the signing of the 
treaty of peace. Thirteen guns, in honor of the states joined in one 
iiation, was the morning salute. Rev. Noah Atwater, the town minis- 
ter, delivered an eloquent discourse in the forenoon ; then followed the 
banquet, with many toasts, each followed by discharge of cannon. The 
fireworks of the evening closed the day. 

Shays' Rebellion. — Freedom from British rule by the toils and priva- 
tions of a seven years' war had been gained. New troubles arose. It 
A^•as difficult in country towns to obtain money enough to pay the taxes. 
The settlement of debts had been deferred during the war. The courts 
were now busy in enforcing payment; imprisonment was a penalty for 
non-payment. 

Those who were in straitened circumstances, but who intended to 
pa.v their debts, keenly felt the need of delay, and would gladly have the 
courts stop for a time — at least until the state legislature would diminish 
what seemed inniecessary expense in the legal processes of enforcing 
payments. 



35 

There was another class who wished in some way to avoid paving 
their debts. These had not forgotten that the colonist's in freeing theni^ 
selves from the government of Great Britain had freed themselves from 
debts dne the English abroad. Why not have another revolution, set 
up a new government, and escape from the debts contracted under the 
present government f 

There was another class whose pleasure was found in excitement, in 
adventure and change. The stirring events of the war had passed. The 
staid life of a New England farmer was irksome ; they pref ererd to be 
where something was "going on." 

These several classes were in no sense bloodthirsty. They thought 
to stop the courts and compel acquiescence in their demands, by gather- 
ing crowds (mobs), hoping to prevail hy force of numbers. Perhaps a 
lumdred men and boys from Westfield were at one time and another 
with tlie rabble that made up the followers of Shays, yet the citizens of 
Westtield, as a body, as shown by the town records, were in favor of 
constitutional and conservative methods of adapting public measures to 
the exigencies of the times. They and some fifty other towns in Hamp- 
shire county, sent delegates to the Hatfield convention and afterwards 
instructed their representative to the general court to secure by legisla- 
tive enactment, in a legitimate way, changes in the laws, that, as a re- 
sult of the discussions in the convention, seemed desirable. The town 
in these troublous times was both considerate and conservative. The ac- 
tion of General Shepard. a leading citizen of the town, in resisting with 
his military force the mob intent upon plundering the arsenal at Spring- 
field, was as humane as it was decisive, and quite in keeping with the 
honorable record of his unswerving patriotism. 

General Shepard. — It would be fitting, if space allowed, to outline 
the personal history of men who have led in the progressive develop- 
ment of Westfield. and who, by their deeds here, and elsewhere, have 
deserved lasting honor. The heroes of former days, whose exploits were 
worthy of fame, had no scribes toJierald their deeds. A little fellow in 
one of our schools, after listening to stories and incidents of men en- 
gaged in one of our recent wars, was asked why these men went to war. 
He replied : "To have something written, and stories told, about 
them." Publicity was not a motive in earlier times and the products of 
the press were very limited as compared with the present. The ma- 
terials for biographies of the founders of our nation are very scanty. 
We shall attempt to outline but two of the famous men of Westfield, 
making use, in the first case, of one of the sketches of William G. Bates, 
^*-ho, in his boyhood, had some personal knowledge of the man : 

^Fajor-General William Shepard was born December 1, 1737, and 
died November, 1817. The eighty years of his life included the times 
of all the wars with the French and Indians, beginning with King 
George's war and ending with the capture of Quebec and the conquest 
of Canada. These eighty years also included the time of the war for 
independence and the war of 1812. In all these wars, with the excep- 
tion of the latter, Gen. Shepard was an active participant, and could 



36 

his life in detail be A\Titteii, as Irving wrote the life of Washington, it 
wonld be an epitome of the history of the wars. His limited eonniion 
school education ended at the age of seventeen, when he entered the 
army at the beginning of the French and Indian war. Under Generals 
Abercrombie and Amherst he was promoted from the ranks, through 
successive grades, and remained wjth the army until the conques't of 
•Canada established Anglo-Saxon supremacy in North America. He 
then returned to Westfield, married, hung up his sword and put his hand 
to the plough, hoping to enjoy the peace of a farmer s life. The thrill 
of the slaughter at Lexington and Concord was felt by all. William 
Shepard hastened at once to the camp at Roxbury. He was made col- 
onel and was the companion of Washington in most if not in all his 
battles. By him he was appointed to protect the retreat from Long 
Island, during which his neck was pierced by a ball. He was borne 
from the field. While the surgeons were probing for the ball his con- 
sciousness returned. "Bring me a canteen," he said. Finding that 
he could drink, and that the organs of his throat were not severed, he 
said to the surgeon: "It is all right, doctor, stick on a plaster and tie 
on m.v cravat, for I am out again." In spite of the remonstrance of the 
surgeon, and to the amazement of the attendants, out he went into the 
battle. This was but one of the twenty-two battles that tested his valor 
and proved that the commission of general was justly and wisely given 
him. 

When the war was ended, and the impressive words of Washington 
had been spoken to the officers, who, through so many years, had been 
his companions in toil, privation and "on the perilous edge of battle," 
General Shepard again returned to his little estate to maintain him- 
self and those dependent upon him b.y his toil in the fields. He did 
more. His simple style of living, his exemplary conduct, his publico 
spirit, his ChrLstian endeavor and his neighborly kindness furnished 
a model for younger men and kindled their aspirations for a noble life. 
Though his opportunities for intellectual culture had been restricted in 
.A outh. and though the routine of camp life had allowed little oppor- 
tunity for adding to his general knowledge, such were his common 
sense, his bravery, his high character for uprightness and intelligence, 
that the people were ready to trust him to perform the highest and most 
delicate services for the public good. He was chosen state representa- 
tive, senator and councillor. He was three times elected representative 
tc Congress. The governor of Massachusetts appointed him to treat 
with the Indians of Penobscot. The United States government appoint- 
ed him to treat with the Six Nations. He served in many town offices 
and was deacon o'f the church for twent.y-four years. He was a large, 
well formed man, six feet in height, compactl.y built, not corpulent, and 
weighing something more than two hundred pounds. His personal ap- 
pearance was impressive. On training days. when, with others, he came 
out to observe the evolutions of the military companies during the clos- 
ing .vears of his life, Mr. Bates, then a boy, says of him: "When I re- 
call his large, imposing figure, bedecked with his trust.v sword and crim- 



37 

son sash, the modest insignia of his rank, accompanied by Adjntant 
Dewej', with the bright point of his spontoon glistening in the sun. and 
heard the whispers 'There's the general,' I leraembered the awe, not- 
withstanding his genial face, with which he inspired me." 

After the reviews and evolutions were finished the soldiers were dis- 
charged. "Then came the greetings and shaking hands with the gen- 
eral. ' ' 

Speaking of his character, ^Iv. Bates adds: "The man, who for 
more than thirty years, was in the service of his country, in places of 
high emolument, the man who was esteemed by Washington and was his 
companion in all the battles of the revolution, who, being detached for 
that purpose, fought with Gates at the battle of Saratoga and contribut- 
ed to the surrender of Burgoyne ; the man who, notwithstanding his sim- 
ple and frugal habits of living, in his small brown house, his constant 
and energetic labor, in the favorite business of his life, went to his grave 
a poor man ! What a record is that to leave of him ? No taint of mean- 
ness or dishonesty ever attached itself to him. He was distinguished for 
his good character and his unbending integrity. 

The rank and file of the leading men of Westfield during the In- 
dian wars and the war of the revolution furnish many examples of 
worthy and valiant men. Our limits for'bid the notice of more than 
one, though his contemporaries were equally worthy. 

"Eldad Taylor," according to the local historian. J. D. Bartlett. 
"the last son and child of Minister Taylor and Ruth WyUvs, his second 
wife, was born in 1708. He lived to become one of the eminent men of 
AVestfield, both in church and state." Though not himself a clergy- 
man, he was closely related to several, as his 'father was a lifelong min- 
ister, and each of his five sisters married a minister. In 1741, the year 
of the settlement of Rev. John Ballantine, Mr. Taylor became deacon 
and was prominent in caring for the interests of the church. His large 
family, including several sons, well sustained the honor of the name in 
public and in private life. 



EDUfC'ATIOXAL HISTORY. 

Before the town was organized the settlers provided a school for 
their children. After the incorporation of the town the selectmen an- 
nually, in town meeting, were required by vote of the town to provide & 
schoolmaster and to pay him a specified salary. No stress of war was 
deemed sufficient to excuse the town from caring for the school. Tht 
schoolmaster in the earlier days often received his pay in grain at the 
prices fixed by the town. Such w^as the scarcity of money that pay- 
ments were often more promptly made in grain than in cash. The con- 
tiact with the schoolmaster was a matter of sufficient importance to be 
at times recorded upon the town books. For instance: 

' ' December 16, 1703. These presents testify an agreement made be- 



38 

tween the select men and Joseph Sextoti in behalf of the towne of West- 
field wc is as ffowlleth viz : — The said Joseph Sexton is hereby bound 
and obliged to keepe sehoole from ye day of ye date hereof nntill the 
fifteenth day of April nexte ensuing all wc time hee Doth lugage to 
use ye best of his skill and industry soe far as he is capassat;)ted 
to teach children to rend & wrig'ht wn sent to sehoole durino' said terms. 

"2nd. Tlie Select men as aforesaid in behalf of ye towne Doth In- 
gag'e to pay to ye afore sd Sexton or to his order ye sums of ten pounds 
att or before ye afour sd terms shall be expired Viz. AVht at 5s per 
bushell, Good white pease at -in, 6d pr bushell, Ky at 8s. 3d. per bushell. 
Indian corn at 2s 4d per bushell, barley at 3s per bush'^11 in any or either 
of ye afoursd species being good and merchantable. This ye afou sd 
parties Doe acknowledge to be ye trew intent and ineaning o'f the a 
four'sd bargaine in every particular. 

"Entered by order of the selectmen. 

"Attest: Joseph Sexton, Town Clarke." 

If the spelling of these early records is defective, this should be re- 
membered: There was no fixed standard of spelling available for the 
common people, beyond the limited lists furnished in spelling books. 
Johnson's dictionary was not published until after the middle at the 
eighteenth century. Walker's dictionary was published a score of years 
earlier, but its vocabulary was limited and it was rarely seen in rural 
communities. 

That Latin was taught by the town or grammar schoolmaster is 
evident from the vote passed in 172-1 respecting ]\Ir. Isaac Stiles, whom 
the town promises to pay "fifty pounds for keeping the school one year, 
that is to say the three summer months, he shall be obliged only for 
keeping the Latin schoolers. ' ' 

Yet when there were not pupils in the school studying Latin the 
selectmen do not seem to have been required to obtain a college grad- 
uate as teacher, but might obtain a "scolar or some other fit person.'' 

In several towns the grammar school became at times migratory. 
There were reasons why families living on Union street and in Little 
river district should wish to bring the school to their neighborhoods. 
January 15, 1771, the town voted not to move the grammar school from 
place to place. It was customary to charge tuition to those attending 
the grammar or town school. Votes similar to the following frequent- 
ly occur. December 2, 1698, it was voted "that all boys capable to go 
to school, their parents or masters to pay three pence a week for readers 
and four pence a week for wrighters. ' ' The grammar school was in 
part toi prepare for college. As there were no higher institutions dur- 
ing the first century after the incorporation of the town open to women, 
one reason for the attendance of girls at the grammar school was want- 
ing. The main reason, however, for their non-attendance was that the 
opinion prevailed that it was neither needful, fitting nor wise to edu- 
cate girls beyond the ability to read and to write. The duty of educat- 



39 

iiig boys was recognized. The duty of edueatiiig- girls was disregarded 
after they had learned to read and write. 

In a vote passed April 26, 1705, the first mention of girls as pupils 
of the town school occurs. They are to pay the same tuition as boys "if 
they goo," but all bovs from 7 to 12 are to pav "whether thev ao or 
not." 

The town took no action respecting the "Dame" or primary schools 
for many years. These seem to have been maintained by private effort. 
With, or without schools, all children, in respectable families, were 
taught to read, for it was deemed the duty of parents to see to it that 
their children were trained to read the Bible. 

At the town meeting, held March 9, 1719, action was taken recog- 
nizing one other school than that taught at the center or fort side of the 
town. It was voted "to allow forty-five shillings towards the school 
over Little River." In 1724 three pounds were voted "to be improved 
in hiring a schoolmaster there this winter season." May 13, 1725, the 
town voted to "give the widow Catherine Noble twenty-five shillings a 
month for keeping school so long as the town sees cause to improve her 
in that service and if she sees cause to assent to it." This appears to 
be the first recognition in the town records of a female teacher. 

The wood for fuel was furnished the school by the parents and 
guardians of the pupils. In December, 1698. the town voted that "such 
persons that send their children to the school shall provide a load of 
wood for each scholar ; it is to be understood that boys from 4 to 14 are 
to pay." This action seems to be but the Legal enforcement of a cus- 
tom that for many years obtained in the country towns. 

Westfield Academy was chartered June 19, 1793, though not open- 
ed for the admission of students until January, 1800. The scholarly 
and energetic minister of the town. Rev. Noah Atwater, for three years 
previous to his settlement, in 1781, a tutor in Yiale college, evidently had 
much to do with the founding of the academy. The minister in most of 
the settlements was the educational, no less than the religious, leader of 
the community. Mr. Atwater seems to have been especially earnest in 
caring for the culture of the young. At times he Joined the work of 
teaching to that of the ministry, that he might help boys on toward col- 
lege. The state authorities willingly granted the act of incorporation 
of Westfield academy, as there was no other institution of the sort in 
Western ]Massachusetts. It was the fourth academy incorporated in 
jNIassachusetts. 

That the academy might be established the town voted L600 to- 
wards its endowment. The act of incorporatioai named General Wil- 
liam Shepard and others as trustees of Westfield academy, "to be and 
continue a body politic, by the same name, forever." The trustees were 
authorized to "hold lands or other estate, the annual income of which 
should not exceed $2,000. In 1797 citizens of the town had subscribed 
$1,000. In response to a petition of the trustees half a township of land 
in the district of ]Maine was granted by the legislature in aid of the acacl- 
emv. The sale of this land and private subscriptions so increased the 



40 

funds that a biiildiiii;- was c-ompleted in 1799. at a cost of about $5,000. 
Hon. Samuel Fowler, agent for ibuilding the academy, in town meeting, 
April 13, 1803. reported the cost to be L927 10s 8d. 

On the first of January, 1800, the building was opened with ap[)ro- 
priate dedicatory exercises. Rev. Joseph Lathrop of Wiest Sprinti'field 
preached the sermon, taking for his text Ps. 144 :12. In the closing 
paragraph occurs this passage: "This day introduces a new year — the 
year that closes the eighteenth century from the era of .vour redemption. 
On tliis day we are assembled to dedicate to God and commit to his 
blessing this infant seminary, hoping that here 'our sons will be as 
plants grown up in their youth, and our daughters as corner-stones pol- 
ished after the similitude of a palace' — that here formed to useful 
knowledge, pious sentiments, and virtuous manners, they will bring 
honor to God, do service to men in their day, and transmit to another 
generation the pious principles and the excellent wisdom which they 
here imbibe." 

The sermon was followed hy a brief address, and the presentation 
of the keys to Hon. Samuel Fowler, president of the board of trustees. 
The following passage occurs in the first part of his address: "We 
have assembled this day for the delightful purpose of dedicating and 
setting apart this building for the important design of education, that 
the rising generation ma.v be instructed in the various branches of hu- 
man and sacred erudition. 

"We re.ioice that this happy lot has fallen to us and that we have 
an opportunity to impart a small pcu'tion of our property in laying tlie 
foundation of so useful an institution. 

"The attention of the eiti/ens of this commonwealth to the educa- 
tion of the rising generation affords a most pleasing prospect of the 
future support of religion, science and morality. These are grand pil- 
lars on which this country has been raised to its present opulence and 
splendor and on which the principles of our most excellent frame of 
goverament must be continued and supported." 

Preceptors following Peter Starr, the first preceptor, were : Henry 
C. ]\Iartindale, afterwards member of congress ; Lyman Strong, Alfred 
Perry, M. D., Horatio Waldo. Saul iC'lark, Theodore North. Sylvester 
Selden, Fraucis L. Kobbins, Samuel ]\I. Emerson, Alfred Stearns, 
Charles Jenkins, Stephen Taylor, Flavel S. Gaylord, George W. Bene- 
dict, Elnathan Gridle.v. Alvan Wheeler, M. D., Parsons Cooke and 
Emerson Davis, who resigned in 1836. after fourteen .vears' service, to 
become pastor of the 'Congregational church. The above named, with 
one exception, were graduates of Williams college. 

In his brief sketch of AVe.stfield. ])riiited in 1826, Preceptor Davis 
thus outlines the condition of the academy: 

"The building was repaired in 1824. It has two school rooms on 
the lower floor and on the other a large hall and lecture room. The in- 
stitution is furnished with a sutficient cjuantit.v of chemical and philoso- 
phical apparatus for illustrating the general principles of those sciences. 
There is also a respectable collection of minerals for the use of the acad- 



41 

emy. Instriu-tiou is given in the departments of natural history to 
those who wish. Terms continue eleven weeks — tuition is three dollars 
per quarter. During the fall, winter and spring quarters, twenty-five 
cents in addition is paid for fuel, sweeping, bell ringing, &c. Present 
number of students 110. About three thousand have been educated at 
this academy since its establishment, many of whom hold conspicuous 
stations in life, and many others are useful membei"s of society. The 
funds of the academy are $5000. ' ' 

The preceptors following Emerson Davis, between the years 184-4 
and 1856. were : Ariel Parish, William W. Woodworth, Rev. Hu'bbard 
Beebe, William (C. Goldthwaite, Ephraim Flint, William C. Butler, and 
Closes Smith. 

Many ushers and many ladies of superior ability and of generous 
culture left the impress of their character and teaching upon students 
in attendance. Among the lady assistants, or preceptresses, was ^liss 
Emma Hart, from Connecticut, who afterward married Dr. Willard of 
Troy and established the famous Troy female seminary, one of the first 
schools in the country to provide adequate higher instruction for wom- 
en. Miss Philena Carpenter, preceptress for several years, added to 
her other accomplishments skill in teaching needle work and painting. 
Pictures painted under her instruction were much appreciated in many 
homes. Another, among many others who won and who deserved .high 
esteem, was Miss A. Elizabeth Stebbins. afterwards the wife of Norman 
T. Leonard. 

When Westfield academy was founded it was the only institution of 
the sort in Western Massachusetts. During the following half century 
rival institutions, better endowed, sprang up, and free high schools be- 
gan to be established. This academy became but one of many institu- 
tions occupying territory once exclusively her own. William G. Bates 
was the soul of a movement to prevent the decline of the institution. 
We C[Uote from him : 

"It became apparent to the friends of the academy, that, in its ap- 
pointments, it was in a situation where a large expenditure should be, 
and must be, made, to prolong its usefulness. The building, though an 
elegant one for the time it was erected, had become dilapidated and old. 
It was still comfortable, and might by repairs have been made still more 
so; but it was 'behind the times,' in its extent and in its architectural 
beauty. It was therefore determined to erect a new building as an ad- 
dition — or rather, to erect a new academy, and have the old building 
subserve the part of lecture rooms, and other similar purposes. An ad- 
dress was accordingh^ prepared and printed, addressed to the alumni 
and the friends of the academy. A response was made to the applica- 
tion, by, in some eases, very generous subscriptions. A contract was 
made for the building, and on the 31st of July, 1857, the cornerstone 
was laid, with imposing ceremonies, and an address was delivered by ^Ir. 
Bates, and original odes were sung by a chorus of voices. The future 
seemed prosperous, and the donors felt that their benefactions had been 
judiciously expended. ' ' 



42 

J. B. Holland was ai)i)oiiite(l preceptor in 1858. iCirciilars had 
been sent to the alumni to aid in securing students. The school opened 
with a full attendance. It was soon evident that the decline of the 
academ}' could not be permanenth^ arrested. The rise of the Westfield 
and other high schools, the development of Williston seminary and 
other well endowed institutions within the territory once exclusively the 
territory of the Westfield academy made it imjrossihle without a large 
endowment to restore its pre-eminence or to continue its new life. ^Ir. 
Holland resigned in 1864. Charles F. Durfee was preceptor for a 
year. Mr. Geddes attempted to maintain the school another year. In 
1867 the grounds and building were sold to the town of Westfield and 
have since been the premises of the high school The trustees added the 
proceeds to the fund of the academy to accumulate until there should 
be suitable opportunity to use the same, in the words of the charter, in 
"promoting piety, religion, and morality, and for the instruction of 
youth in such languages, and such of the liberal arts and sciences, as the 
\rustees shall direct. " 

We may not pass from the institutional life of the academy without 
again (juoting from Mr. Bates. In his bi-centennial address, delivered 
October 6, 1869, on the occasion of the two hundredth anniversary of 
the incorporation of Westfield. alluding to the academy, he said : 

' ' It would be a pleasing retrospect if we were to pass over the first 
two-thirds of the present century, and record the names of those at 
whose feet, from time to time, we have sat for guidance and for instruc- 
tion ; if we were to recall those early companions, with whom we stray- 
ed, and played, and perhaps toiled along the paths of learning — com- 
panions dear to us then — of whom we felt, 'very pleasant hast thou been 
to me, my brother' — but oh, how doubly dear now, as one by one they 
faded from our sight, leaving us more and more alone, like a city, which 
sits solitary, and yet is full of people — in the world, but not of it, among 
men, yet not of them, andsighingfor the unselfish friendship of those who 
made our young hours happy; if we were to estimate the effect which 
the establishment of the institution has wrought upon the material in- 
terest of the town, its moral influence upon the people, and the height- 
ened tone it has given to its intelligence and its virtue: if we were to 
consider what a result has been produced upon the world at large, by 
more than nine thousand people, who have gone out from it, to all parts 
of the civilized globe. But the topic is too va§t for the occasion. I 
may say, however, in regard to it as a part of the history of the town, 
that the proximity of other institutions, endowed by enlightened liber- 
ality, with ample funds, enabling them to provide more numerous teach- 
ers, more extensive apparatus, and more commodious boarding accom- 
modations, inaugurated a rivalry against which this almost unendowed 
institution could poorly struggle. The buildings and grounds, which 
had conu^ down to us, were accordino-ly sold. The estate of the academy 
is invested for increase, until by accumulation, augmented as I trust it 
will be, by future benefactions, it shall again si)ring forward imto a 
field of usefulness. 



43 

":My fellow citizens, I say now, in as full faith as I said to von on 
the 31st of July. 1857, 'Wes-tfield academy will never die! It was born 
to be immortal ! It wds incorporated to be and continue a body politic 
forever ' ; and if this generation shall pass a^tay with a deluded apathy 
to its interests, it will find, in a generation perhaps now unborn, 
friends who will rally around it, with the zeal of its first founders, and 
rejoice with exceeding great joy, in its returned prosperity." 

]\Ir. Bates proved his faith by his works. Before his death he 
deeded to the trnstees of the Westfield academy, in aid of its purposes, 
real estate which he valued approximately at ten thousand dollars. The 
trustees of the academ.y, in recent years, have secured the end for which 
it was established by using the income of its fund in extending the 
course of study and in increasing the efficiency of the high school; the 
trustees also actively co-operate with the school committee of the town 
in the management of the school ; hence the history of the academy is in 
a measure merged with that of the high school. We turn to its history. 

The High School. — The first movement toward the establishment of 
a high school, as appears from the town records, was the appointment 
of a committee, in 1837, to procure a site and to build a town house and a 
high school building. 

When the town house was completed it contained rooms in the first 
story for a high school, while the second story was a town hall. 

Though no arrangement was made by the town for that purpose, the 
academy continued to provide, as heretofore, for the instruction of those 
who continued their studies after leaving the grammar grades. 

In 1845, when the state board of education were about to provide a 
j)ermanent abode for the normal school, the town ofi:'ered to sell the first 
story and the basement of the town hall to the state for the use of the 
normal school for the sum of $1,500; but if the board preferred to erect 
a separate building the town offered to give $500 for that purpose. 

At the April meeting, 1855, the town appropriated $1,000 "for the 
high school and for fitting up rooms for that purpose." 

The school opened in the town hall building the same year. H. E. 
Daniels was the first principal, Miss H. N. Fletcher (afterwards Mrs. L. 
R. Norton), the first assistant. These were succeeded by Almon B. and 
Mrs. Clapp. The succeeding principals were A. H. Bingham, C. D. 
Hills. E. A. Booth. H. H. Tuttle, A. E. Oibbs, Henry Dame. John Welch 
and James ^McLaughlin. 

In 1867, as we have seen, the building and grounds of the Westfield 
academy became those of the high school. The town, in 1889, purchased 
the Ives property and thus extended the grounds towards the south. In 
that year the town also voted $26,000 for the reconstruction and en- 
largement of the high school building. During that year, also, an ar- 
rangement to continue for a term of years was completed between the 
trustees of the academy and the town, by which the income of the acad- 
emy fund, upon certain conditions, should be used to improve and to 
extend the work of the high school. In carrying out this arrangement 
the trustees co-operate with the school committee. 



44 

In September. 1890, the new building was ready ; a larger faenlty 
had been carefully selected, and a more extended course of study had 
been prepared by the incoming principal. The school entered r.pon a 
new era of usefulness. 

During the .year the rear wing — the old academy — was burned. It 
was replaced by a brick wing adapted to the needs of the school. 

Herbert W. Kittredge was appointed principal in 1890. As the 
result of his thorough teaching, careful administration, and tireless 
energy, and loyal co-operation of competent teachers in the several de- 
partments, the school has reached a foremost rank in the high schools 
of the state. 

The Atheneum. — In 1864 Samuel Mather, Hiram Harrison and 
'Cutler Latiin. their associates and successors, were incorporated under 
the name of the Westfield Atheneum. ]\[r. Mather gave $10,000 as a 
permanent fund for the maintenance of the library and is designated on 
the records as the "founder of the institution." ]\Ir. Harrison gave 
about the same amovnit in land, and the building which he erected upon 
it, on Main Street, on the present site of the U. S. Whip Co. The pro- 
ceeds of the sale of this property now constitutes the Hiram Harrison 
fund. 

$10,000 were raised by subscription for the purchase of books. The 
donors were Henry T. Morgan, $3.500 : Cutler Lafiin and Charles Jess- 
up. $1,000 each; William Ct. Bates, Edward B. Gillett, (reorge L. Latiin 
and Samuel Fowler, $500 each. Smaller sums were donated by other 
parties. The legacy of Addison C. Rand, $5,000 and that of Fanny B. 
Bates, $1,000. and donations from others, of less amount, have been 
received. The Ed. Taylor fund, $700; Leonard Fund. $700; R. B. Rob- 
inson Fund, $2,500 ; Frances Abbott Fund. $100, and an income of 
$500 from the Frederick ]\Iorand fund. 

In 1872, ^Irs. Cvnthia Eidridge, sister of Samuel ^Mather, gave 
$1,000. 

May 10. 1895, by the .joint a<'tion of the directors and the town the 
library was made free. The numl)er of volumes at present in the lilirary 
is 88,000 and the circulation about 90.000. 

Churches. — The church first established in AYestfield. and for more 
than one hundred years maintained by the town, is known as the First 
Congregational iCIiurch. We have already outlined its history. We 
may add that within a few years a commodious parish house has been 
adcled to the church building, furnishing accommodations for the large 
Sabbath school and for the social gatherings of the various organizations 
connected with the church. 

When Rev. J. H. Lockwood was made pastor emeritus in 190(5. 
Rev. Henry M. Dyckman was selected as his successor. He was in- 
stalled in 1907 and resigned 1918. The present pastor, Rev. Henry A. 
Kernen, began his pastorate this year. 

The Second Congregational Church was organized in the year 1858. 
after 139 persons had subscribed $1,425.25 for the support of religious 
v\orship in Westfield. The first meeting of the signers, who were in-ter- 



45 

ested in providing- an additional place of worship, was held on the tenth 
of ]\Iareh, 1856. in AVhitman Hall, located over the store of the present 
Bryan Hardware Vo. Rev. Francis Homes of Boston was engaged as 
pastor for the first year. He was succeeded by Rev. J. S. Bingham 
during whose pastorate the Church was erected in the year 1861. The 
next pastor was Rev. George Bowler, who was installed in 1863, and 'con- 
tinued until failing health caused his resignation in 1865, when Rev. 
Henry Hopkins, who afterwards was president of Williams College, was 
chosen pastor. Dr. Hopkins was succeeded by Rev. Lyman H. Blake in 
1881, who served as pastor until the choice- of Rev. "W. €. Gordon in 
1900. Dr. Gordon was followed by Rev. W. H. iCbmmons in the year 
1908. The present pastor. Rev. C. E. Holmes, succeeded Rev. Com- 
mons in 1911. 

The first Baptist church organized in Westfield was at the West 
B'arms (Wyben). This church prospered for many years, but after a 
time it was evident that a strong church could not be maintained so far 
from the center of population. 'Services, however, were maintained 
until 1871, when the church was discontinued, the members uniting with 
Wie Central Baptist church. 'Since that time various clergymen from 
Westfield have held services on Sundav afternoons in a mission chapel 
«t Wyben. 

The "First Baptist church" of Westfield was organized in 178-4. 
Five 3'ears later a building was erected near the old county bridge. In 
1795 the church became divided and disorganized. The revival of 1806 
infused new life. Servii-es were resumed. The little band failed to 
maintain services from 1810 to 1819. Then Rev. David Wright became 
the pastor, and through his earnest effort the membership was increased 
to 203 in 1826. This church erected its second house of worship on 
]\rain street, near the bridge over Little River. 

On May 23. 1833, the 'Central Baptist church was organized, with 
Rer. David Wright as pastor. This was the beginning of a new era for 
the Baptists of Westfield. A church building was at once erected on the 
corner of Elm and Church streets now remodeled for business purposes. 
The church grew and in a few years absor*bed the Baptist interests of 
A¥estfield. In 1867-8, the church having outgrown its accommodations, 
the present house of worship on the East side of Elm street, between 
Thomas and Chapel streets, during the pastorate of Rev. John Jen- 
nings, was erectecl. In 1898 Mrs. G. I. Ha^^s purchased the brick resi- 
dence, built b.y A. B. Whitman, and presented it to the church, thus sup- 
pl.ving a want long felt for kindergarten rooms and furnishing admir- 
able opportunities for social gatherings. The church has recently pro- 
vided a new parsonage. The following pastors have served the church : 
Andrew M. Smith, David AVright, Charles Van Loan, Farondia Bester, 
Alfred Colburn, John Alden, William iCarpenter, John R. Beaumis, John 
Jenning's, E. M. Gerome, W. H. Eaton, H. P. Smith and R. B. Esten. 
W. S. Ayres is now the pastor. 

Methodism began in Westfield in 1794. The town was then includ- 
ed in what was called the Granville circuit, and was a part of the New 



46 

York conference. Services were firet held in that part of the town now 
called Mundale, then known as Hoophole. In IS 12 the first sermon was 
preached at the center, by Thomas Thorpe, and a class was formed. The 
first meeting'-house was 'built at IToophole. also called West Parish and 
later Mnndale. In 1830 the town purchased a site and 1833 the build- 
ing on Main street, the present site of the home of Chester 11. Abbe, was 
dedicated. In 1836 it became an independent church with Rev. Paul 
Townsend as first pastor. As a circuit it has had the services of the 
iiiost distinguished preachers of early IMethodism, such as David Kil- 
bourn, Erastus Otis, Jefferson Hascall, Thomas W. Tucker, Jonathan D. 
I'ridge and others. 

Revs. Smith B. ]McLonth, Ephraim Scott, Jefferson Hascall were 
successors of ]Mr. Townsend. In 1843, under Mr. Ha.scall, the large 
building was erected on Elm street at the corner of School street. So 
strong and prosperous had the society 'become that the New England an- 
nual conference was held in Westfield, in 1841. Dr. Hascall was suf^- 
ceeded bv Drs. Mark Trafton, H. V. Degen, Miner Ravmond, J. B. 
Hatch, G. F. Oox, J. H. Twombly (twic^e), William Butler, Gilbert 
Haven (afterwards bishop), I. J. P. Collver, D. E. Chapin. George Bow- 
ler, C. D. Hills, Henry W. Warren (later bishop), Daniel Richards, W. 
G. H. Lewis, J. J. Mansfield, George AVhitaker, J. S. Barrows, S. L. 
Gracey, F. Woods (twice), J. A. Cass, E. A. Titus, J. M. Leonard. 
Charles Young, L. H. Dorchester, Frederic N. Upham, John D. Pickles, 
C E. Davis, Philip L. Frick and Conrad Hooker. The church has been 
characterized by strength and aggressiveness. During the second pas- 
torate of Dr. Twombly, the present large and beautiful church edifice 
^^ as erected and dedicated in 1875. 

I\Iembers of the Episcopal 'Church residing in W^estfield about the 
time of the Revolution united in holding services in Southwick, Avhich 
then was included in the township of Westfield, and the Rev. Roger 
Yiets of Granby, iConn., served as priest. The Episcopal Church, how- 
ever, fell under the ban when Roger Viets was imprisoned for professing 
tory sentiments, and the stand was taken in Westfield that "Episcopacy 
shall never be established in Westfield." Westfield Episcopalians then 
registered in St. Marks Church, Blandford, to avoid paying toward the 
salary of the Congregational minister, and until about the time of the 
civil war the priest came down to Westfield occasionally to hold services 
in private homes. One of these places was the residence of Mrs. James 
B. Holland. 

Through the untiring efforts of Benjamin F. Coole.v. and Edward 
and Emerson Jessup, sons of Deacon lOharles Jessup, all of whom en- 
tered the ministry of the Episcopal Church, regular services were begun 
in the abandonee! chapel of the Universalists on Chapel Street, and the 
Bishop of Massachusetts placed a priest in residence in Westfield, and 
the Church of the Atonement was duly organized as a parish on July 1, 
1863. The Cliureh, however, lapsed from 1865 until 1873, when the 
Rev. J. Frank Winkley became Rector March 30. 1873, and since then 
regular services have never been omitted. A move was made from the 



47 

Universalist chapel to a hall in the old mill on Main Street nntil prop- 
erty was pnrehased on King Street. 

The present hriek chnreh was erected in 1880, when the Rev. Henry 
J. Sheridan was Rector. In this chnreh stand two ancient stone angels 
which were in the reredos of the chapel of Eton College, England, in 
the year lloO, bnt taken down by the Puritans as " scandalous monu- 
ments" in 1643. They were brought to Westtield by the Rev. Benjamin 
F. Cooley in 1870. 

The Church of the Atonement has a membership of 250 communi- 
cants, and a fund is accumulating for a new church building. A boy 
choir is maintained, and the present Rector, the Rev. Robert Keating 
Smith, has been in charge since January 1, 1906. His pastorate in- 
cludes all Episcopalians in Western Hampden lOounty. 

If our limits permitted, we should insert the admirable history of 
St. Mary's church, found in the "History of the Catholic Church," 
written by Rev. J. J. McCo,v. We shall use parts of it. 

It is not clear when the first mass was held in Westfield. Father 
Fitlon speaks of visiting Westfield as a missionary, hetween 1828 and 
1830. Father John Brady of Hartford, was in Westfield during the 
building of the canal, caring for the lOatholic workmen. Later, during 
the building of railroads, services were again held. John Healy was 
here in 1840, and about the same time William Sullivan, Wdlliam Calli- 
nan and John O'Neil. This same O'Neil was drowned in Southwick 
ponds while bringing up the last boat that evt»" came up the old canal. 

The first mass definitely remembered was in the town hall, Novem- 
ber, 1851. About one hundred and fifty were present. For some time 
the Catholics gathered in some one of their houses whenever the priest 
visited them. On Sundays, if no priest could be with them, they still as- 
sembled and said the rosary and the litanies in common. 

James Phillips w^as an earnest worker. His Protestant friends 
aided him in securing a church building by purchasing a site in 1853. 
The vigil of Christ was held in the new builcling the next year, though 
the walls were yet nnplastered. Father Blenkinsop of C%icopee had 
charge at this .io.yfnl opening of the church. 

In 1854, during the time of intense "Know Nothing" excitement, 
some of the "baser sort" of the town's people gathered and moved to- 
ward the new church, threatening to burn it. Catholics gathered in its 
defence. Hiram Hull, a leading man of the town, met the mob, and by 
a few well-timed and decisive words, turned them away from the 
church. Dr. McCoy adds: "The Catholics were never afterwards 
molested. On the contrary, there has been no time in the chnreh 's his- 
tory, when Protestant neighbors have failed, by kind words and generous 
help, to encourage all the good that the C^itholic hearts and minds could 
plan." 

In 1855, in the month of June, Bp. Fitzpatrick of Boston attended 
the first confirmation. John Healey, the first to be buried in the Catho- 
lic cemetery, was present to see his four children confirmed, though he 
was in the last stages of consumption. 



48 

Westfield was for a time a mission of Springfield. In 1862, Rev. 
]\I. X. Carroll became the first resident pastor. He was followed in 
1868 by Father ]\riglionieo. In 187-4 Rev. Thomas Smytlie became 
pastor, a man much respected by all classes. He had a large influence 
in town affairs. .March 1. 1881, the church was destroyed by fire. The 
commodious brick church was dedicated by Bishop O'Reilly March 1, 
1885. Father Smyth was succeeded by Fr. Donahue and by Rev. G. M. 
Fitzgerald, the present pastor. Rev. jMichael E. Leahey is the assistant 
pastor. 

The church of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament was set apart 
from St. Mary's parish on 22nd of ^lay, 1910. The first mass was cele- 
brated in a hall in 0. B. Parks block on May 29, 1910. The first sod was 
turned for the erection of the new church Aug. 15, 1910. The church 
was dedicated by Bishop Beaven on the 2nd of July, 1911. 

The first pastor was Rev. Michael J. Ahern and his assistant Rev, 
Francis 'Malley. He was succeeded in 1914 by the Rev. P. J. 'xMal- 
ley, who is its present pastor. His assistant is Rev. John C. Edson. The 
church has about 1.200 members. 

The first public service held in Westfield by the Advent Christian 
people occurred in the year 1856. Meetings were then held here and in 
Wyben at varying intervals until the year 1866, when a mission church 
was organized. 

But it remained for Elder II. L. Hastings, the well known writer 
and publisher of Boston, to set in order the first genuine Adventist or- 
ganization in Westfield. The church was organized on January 4. 1869, 
and was known as "The Church of Christ." The name of this body 
was later changed to "The Advent 'Christian Church of Westfield, 
Mass." 

Elder George L. Teeple was the first regularly elected pastor of the 
church, beginning his service with the church on January 1, 1872. He 
served the church but one year. During this and the succeeding year 
the meetings were held in the White Chapel of C^iapel street. In the 
year 1874 the brick church edifice on School street was erected, and the 
church organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Massa- 
chusetts. 

During the period from 1875 to 1908 the following ministers served 
the church in the capacity of pastor: 

Dr. James Hemenway, William €. Stewart, S. G. ]\Iathewson, Dr. 
D. :\Iathewson, J. E. Cross. John St. John, M. E. Andrews, George M. 
Little. A. H. Bissell and F. AV. Richardson. Seasons of trial and of 
discouragement have overtaken the churt-h, but there were also seasons 
of widespread revival interest and of genuine prosperity during the 
years above mentioned. 

Rev. A. C Johnson began his services as pastor of the church on 
December 12, 1908. During ]\Ir. Johnson's pastorate the commodious 
and attractive new church edifice on Washington street, near Court, was 
erected at a cost of about $20,000.00, and dedicated on April 20. 1915 
Mr. Johnson closed his labors with the church on the second Sunday in 



September, 1916. ]Mr. Hewitt, the present pastor, preached his fii-st 
sermon on Sunday, November 12, 1916. coming to Westfield from Au- 
rora, 111. 

Holy Trinity Polish R. iC. Church Avas organized in the year 1900 
by Fr. Przbylski. The E. R. Lay whip factory was secured and con- 
verted into a church. Fr. Schneider succeeded Fr. Przbylski, who was 
transferred to Philadelphia. The present church was built under Fr. 
Schneider's pastorate and has grown rapidly into an organization claim- 
ing about -i.OOO members. The Rev. (rabriel Van Roth is the present 
pastor, Anehour Zenner is curate. 

The congregation of St. John German. Polish. Evangelical Luther- 
an Church, unaltered Augsburg confession, was organized in the .year of 
1901, bv the Rev. Aug. Brunn of Holyoke. Later services were con- 
ducted bv Rev. ]Menkermoeller and Rev. L. A. Linn of Springfield in 
the chapel of the Baptist chuch. In the year 1907 a church was erected 
on the east side of State street. Rev. L. A. Linn being installed as pas- 
tor. During the .vear 1916 the church was destroyed by fire but was 
rebuilt and enlarged the same year. The present pastor. Rev. A. Das- 
ler succeeded Rev. L. A. Linn. 

St. Casimir R. €'•. Church was organized March 22, 1915, with Rev. 
C. A^asiliauskas as pastor. Services were held at the St. Casimir Soeiet.y 
Hall for two years until the present church was erected in 1917 and ded- 
icated on May 80, 1918, by Bishop Beaven. The church has a member- 
ship of 650. 

St. Peter's R. C. Church on the east side of State street was erected 
in 1915. This society was organized on the 27th of July 1902. Until 
the erection of the new church services were held in the Slovak Hall. 
Rev. Francis (Cterny has been pastor of the church since 1915. It has a 
membership of about 500. 



INDUSTRIES. 

Westfield for more than one hundred and fift.v years was a farm- 
ing town. Its extensive alluvial meadow lands made it a leading agri- 
cultural town. iCitizens are now living who remember the beginning of 
other industries that now absorb so large a proportion of the capital and 
the labor of its people; yet the amount of grass, corn, tobacco, and other 
crops is still large. 

The manufacture of whips, which spread the name of Westfield 
widely, seems to have been begun in a very simple and rude wa.\' over a 
century ago. The strands for lashes were first cut on fiat tables. The 
Shakers of Lebanon. New^ York, were the first to cut strands from horse 
hides by "stripping," a handicraft practiced with wonderful skill by 
cutters "in AVe-stfield. Tradition has it that Joseph Jokes, as early as 
1808 made whips wdth hickory stocks, to which, by a loop or "keeper" 
a lash was fastened. Soon improvements were made by boiling the 
wood in a preparation of colored oils. The stocks of the "twi.sted 
4 



50 

whips." as thi'\' were called, were made of white oak or other wood of 
tongrh fibre, and covered with l)lack sheepskin sewed on. The first plait- 
iii<)r machines were barrel machines. The plaiting machines for eover- 
ing stocks, as they are now covered, were first introduced from Germany 
and Ens'land; thouoh they were p^reatly improved ])y the ingennity of 
New Entjland men. Ninety-five per cent of all the whips manufactured 
in the world are produced in Westfield factories. 

The II. B. Smith foundries, the Westfield ^li<x. Co. and The Foster 
^lachine Co. have developed into other leading industries of the town. 
Mention should also be made of the Atwater Knitting 'Co., the Brien 
Heater Co., The Textile Co. and the Planet ^Mfg. Co., as well as the ex- 
tensive manufacture of cigars and paper. 



